Looking Beyond the Voting Constituency: A Study of Campaign Donation Solicitations in the 2008 Presidential Primary and General Election

Abstract

In order to overcome collective action problems inherent in campaign fundraising, political campaigns solicit donors through material, solidary, and ideological appeals. Over the course of the campaign, the percentage of donors motivated by these different types of incentives are roughly equal; however, no previous study has differentiated between those who donate during primary elections and those donating during general elections. This study of campaign fundraising solicitations sent out via e-mail during the 2008 presidential campaign by the two major-party candidates finds evidence that the campaigns recognize a difference between the primary election financial constituencies and the general election financial constituencies and that campaigns target the types of appeals that they send to potential donors accordingly.

KEYWORDS:

• political campaigns
• political donors
• political fundraising
• 2008 presidential election

Notes

Note. Standard errors in parentheses.

*Significant at the 95% confidence level.

**Significant at the 99% confidence level.

Note. Standard errors in parentheses.

*Significant at the 95% confidence level.

**Significant at the 99% confidence level.