July 29, 2016

Donald Trump Faults GOP for Poor Convention Ratings

“I didn’t produce our show. I just showed up for the final speech.”

Carlo Allegri/Reuters/ZUMA

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Donald Trump is suddenly distancing himself from last week’s Republican National Convention, after television ratings show that the Democratic National Convention consistently pulled in more viewers across the country for three consecutive nights.

“I didn’t produce our show,” Trump told the New York Times. “I just showed up for the final speech.”

While the ratings for the fourth night have yet to be announced, Trump did appear anxious that Hillary Clinton’s final convention night on Thursday would top his own. Earlier that morning, the Republican nominee sent a campaign letter to his supporters urging them not to tune in.

According to CNN, the DNC’s biggest night was Monday, when it racked up 26 million viewers. Trump’s Monday night attracted 23 million.

The ratings loss is likely to be a particularly sensitive topic for Trump. The reality star has long boasted of being a ratings bonanza, with viewers flocking to witness his unpredictable, inflammatory performances throughout the primary debate season. Trump’s presence in the debates created record-breaking numbers for television networks.

In Cleveland, however, Trump failed to secure the kind of star-studded event he promised would take place at the convention. While his convention’s roster included Scott Baio, Antonio Sabato Jr., and Kid Rock, the Democratic convention blew away the competition with Meryl Streep, Paul Simon, and Alicia Keys.

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We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

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