A top aide to Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer has offered money to local politicians in Iowa in exchange for political endorsements of the billionaire hedge fund manager's presidential bid, according to the Associated Press. Impeaching President Donald Trump became Tom Steyer's personal mission shortly after the president took office.
The AP said the Steyer campaign's attempts to purchase endorsements did not violate any campaign finance laws, so long as the expenses were properly disclosed to the Federal Election Commission. But the campaign's strategy of buying the billionaire's way into the White House isn't really a good look for the campaign.
Apparently it's not illegal for Tom Steyer to "buy" endorsements, but it sure looks shady,dirty,wrong from where I'm sitting. ????? https://t.co/PtNOyD3xGo
— Ethan Bearman (@EthanBearman) November 7, 2019
Steyer has been accused of buying his way onto the debate stage for the Democratic presidential nomination. The billionaire activist has far outspent his fellow Democratic contenders on TV ads, and he's outspent his fellow Democrats and the Trump campaign on digital spending.
tom steyer paid his way onto the debate stage. he spent millions or dollars on ads that pop up on youtube with no substance other than “orange man bad”. he has no grassroots support. get money out of politics. https://t.co/NTTSuNrb3f
— ? june ? (@shoe0nhead) November 7, 2019
Gov. Steve Bullock (D-MT) said in a statement that "Tom Steyer's campaign is built on writing the biggest checks, not on building genuine grassroots support -- and proves why it's so important to get Big Money out of our elections."
.@GovernorBullock issues a statement on the Pat Murphy story. “First he buys his way onto the debate stage and now Tom Steyer’s trying to buy endorsements,” Bullock said in a statement. pic.twitter.com/T5JM3Az1gY
— Adam Brewster (@adam_brew) November 7, 2019
Steyer and the Democratic Party also drew criticism from many others on both sides of the political aisle.
This ain't it. https://t.co/3H4Wf3kbxo
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) November 7, 2019
It’s really wild to see the Democratic Party say they’re about stopping the influence of Money in Politics while they let billionaire Tom Steyer buy his way into debates and endorsements. https://t.co/EB11zDpA0H
— Samuel Sinyangwe (@samswey) November 7, 2019
Steyer aide offered money for endorsements ?????? https://t.co/SkUeNrv8i0
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 7, 2019