Tipsheet

Steyer Campaign Tried To Buy Political Endorsements

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. 

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

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."

Steyer and the Democratic Party also drew criticism from many others on both sides of the political aisle.