Forging America: My Campaign Manager is Roosevelt-Chapter 56 - 43: How to Campaign? (2)

"Carter Wright is talking to voters about his past accomplishments, but we are showing them a future they can reach out and touch!"

"Sarah, Frank, you tell me—in Pittsburgh today, which story resonates more with the people?"

Frank and Sarah fell silent.

They looked at Leo, the confusion and worry on their faces slowly fading away, replaced by a surge of rekindled excitement and hope.

Leo continued, "The ’Pittsburgh Revival Plan’ we’re working on is our best story. We’re not just making empty promises to the voters. We’re showing them the future we are creating with our own hands, with every new road paved and every new park built."

"We’re not just talking. We’re doing."

"Okay, let’s say our story is more compelling than his," Sarah pressed. "What about money? A mayoral election requires millions of US Dollars in funding. Carter Wright has Morganfield and those construction oligarchs behind him. They can fund him. What about us? Where are we going to find the money?"

’Now, let’s talk about money. This is the most realistic and most critical part.’ Roosevelt’s voice in Leo’s head turned serious.

’In United States political elections, funding sources basically boil down to a few types.’

’The first and most common is big-money politics, funded by large corporations and the wealthy elite. That’s the path Carter Wright is taking. His campaign coffers are stuffed with checks from Morganfield and those construction oligarchs.’

’That’s a path we can’t take, and one we must never take.’

’The second is relying on party support.’

’Leo, you have an ally in Washington, John Murphy. He will open the doors for you to the Progressive political action committees.’

’Those organizations have deep pockets, and they are always looking for rising political stars to invest in. This is a channel we can and must use. It will provide the initial fuel for our engine.’

Roosevelt paused, then said, ’But you must remember, that fuel comes with its own weight and expectations. It can help us get started, but it can never become the cornerstone of the edifice we are building.’

’The third is self-funding, where the candidate pays out of their own pocket. Obviously, Leo, that path is also closed to us—unless you suddenly discover you’re the long-lost illegitimate son of some oil tycoon.’

Leo gave a wry smile to himself.

’So, our true path is to rely on small-dollar donations from thousands upon thousands of ordinary people.’

Roosevelt’s voice became forceful.

’People think that fighting big-money politics with small-dollar donations is a product of the modern internet age. No, my boy. That’s a game I mastered long ago.’

’When I ran for reelection in 1936, the country’s entire wealthy class hated my guts. The Republican Party’s campaign funds were practically unlimited.’

’The Dupont Family, the Morgan Family, the Rockefeller Family—all the bankers and industrial oligarchs I had offended—poured money nonstop to my opponent.’

’My campaign manager was a genius named James Farley. Guess what he did? He bypassed all the traditional political fundraising channels and solicited donations directly from ordinary people across the country.’

’He appealed to the farmers, workers, and small shopkeepers who supported me, telling them that one dollar wasn’t too little, and five dollars wasn’t too much. What we need isn’t your money, but your support.’

’To this day, I still clearly remember a letter in a report Farley showed me.’ Roosevelt’s voice held a trace of warmth.

’The letter was from an ordinary farmer in Oklahoma. He had lost almost everything in the Black Blizzards that swept across the entire Midwest. His farm was destroyed, and his family was starving.’

’But inside the envelope, he still sent us one US Dollar.’

’He wrote in the letter: "Mr. President, this is the last of the money I have in my pocket, but I’m willing to donate it to you, because I believe you are the only one who can lead us out of this damn predicament."’

Roosevelt’s voice faltered for a moment.

’My boy, remember this: in an election, that one-dollar bill from the farmer is far, far heavier than a ten-thousand-dollar check from the Morgan Family.’

’Because behind that ten-thousand-dollar check is just a cold, calculated exchange of interests. But behind that one-dollar donation stands a living, breathing person—a citizen who, come Election Day, will go to the polls rain or shine and cast his sacred vote.’

Leo looked at Frank and Sarah, who were worried about the funding issue, and said, "We’re not completely alone in this."

"We have an ally in Washington, Representative John Murphy. My victory is crucial for him to consolidate his political standing in Pittsburgh."

"I’m going to seek his support. He can help us open a channel to funding from the Progressive political action committees. That money can serve as the initial fuel for our campaign."

Frank cut him off. "Wait, Leo. You’re saying you’re going to ask Murphy for support? Have you forgotten what happened at the victory party?"

"His campaign manager, that woman Karen, tried to poach me and Sarah right in front of you! That was definitely on Murphy’s orders. He never had good intentions. He wants to break up our team!"

Sarah nodded as well. She didn’t say anything, but the look on her face clearly showed she agreed with Frank.

"Frank, you’re absolutely right," Leo replied, his calmness surprising them. "Karen’s actions were, ninety-nine percent, on Murphy’s orders. Of course he wants to break us up and then absorb us one by one into his own system."

"Then why are we still going to him? Isn’t that walking right into a trap?" Frank was even more confused.

"Quite the opposite," Leo said. "It’s precisely because they tried and failed that we now have the right to negotiate with them."

He looked at Frank and Sarah. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Think about it. Karen offered you a high-level position in the Labor Federation, and a job in Washington with a five-figure annual salary. These are temptations most people couldn’t refuse. But what did you do?"

"Frank, you rejected her on the spot. Sarah, you hesitated, but in the end, you chose to stay here, in this shabby prefabricated office with us."

"Murphy saw all of this. It proved one thing to him: our small team possesses a loyalty that money and status can’t buy."

"We aren’t a disorganized mob thrown together for profit. We are a fighting force with real conviction."

"In the eyes of a wily old fox like Murphy, who’s been navigating politics for decades, a team as loyal and effective as ours is the rarest and most valuable political asset in the world."

"He knows he can’t divide us with petty favors anymore. That leaves him with only one option: to choose a deeper collaboration with our entire team, to invest in us as equal allies."

"This is politics, Frank," Leo’s tone grew serious. "You have to accept its rules. Often, the only way to win an opponent’s respect is to show him your fangs, and your unshakable unity."

He paused, his tone becoming even more solemn.

"But you must remember, this money from Washington can never be the main force in our battle. It can only be the icing on the cake, not our lifeline."

"The primary source of our campaign funding can only come from the thousands upon thousands of ordinary citizens who support us—from their voluntary, small-dollar donations."

Leo shared the concept of "small-dollar donations" with Frank and Sarah, explaining the true political significance behind the phrase.

It wasn’t just a simple fundraising method; it was a ritual for forging a flesh-and-blood connection with the people.