We heard about the
political stunt that the California GOP gubernatorial candidate, Neel Kashkari, pulled last week. Now, we find out that his campaign got quite an infusion of cash (most likely as a result of it). He will likely need that cash as Governor Jerry Brown leads in this race by over 20 percentage points. In addition, Governor Brown has a great deal more cash on hand as well.
From sfgate:
The latest campaign documents on file show that while his job search was a bust, the admitted political stunt was a treasure trove for fundraising.
Kashkari, a former deputy treasury secretary, picked up a $27,200 donation from Paulson, his former boss, while he was sleeping on Fresno's streets. He also scored a host of other big contributions from business leaders.
Kashkari's campaign was down to $122,000 as of June 30, according to records on file with the California secretary of state. But he raised $432,000 in July - including more than $200,000 since his Fresno foray, said his spokeswoman, Mary-Sarah Kinner. She said the effort brought needed attention to key issues before state voters - joblessness and poverty.
Kashkari's campaign windfall has handed Democrats the opportunity to jab at the multimillionaire former investment banker and administrator of the federal bailout program for banks. They say it shows he has options, and friends in high places, that the homeless and jobless lack.
State Democratic Party chairman John Burton said of Kashkari's homeless and jobless stint: "It looks silly unless he has a point to it. Is he going to call for increasing the minimum wage or job opportunities to the homeless, or to build clean and better shelters? What is his point?"
Burton acknowledged that Kashkari's job hunt scored media attention, saying, "We wouldn't be talking about him if he didn't do this."
But "if he took a dump in the middle of Market Street, he'd get attention too."