Ross: Entertaining billionaires is necessary evil of campaigning

At the latest Democratic debate, Senator Elizabeth Warren – who refuses to hold big-money fundraisers – stuck it to Mayor Pete Buttigieg about his recent big money fundraiser in California Wine Country.

“Billionaires in wine caves should not pick the next President of the United States,” she proclaimed.

The same question came up in the spin room after the debate. This was on MSNBC:

“We need all of the resources we can bring to the fight to end the Trump presidency,” said Buttigieg.

“But could you tell folks why do you need the face to face — I think that was the point Elizabeth Warren was hitting on – why do you need the face-to-face?” an interviewer asked in response.

“We have to do everything we can to build the campaign and to build the party,” said Buttigieg.

What he’s trying to say: You do it because donors are much more generous when they meet you face-to-face. I know a little about this because I’ve run for office.

The real question is what do those rich donors want in return? I’ll tell you: To be able to tell friends they met you; to make sure you’re not crazy; and to make sure that you’ll at least take their call if you’re elected.

Now, does that mean you’ve been bribed? Not really, and I’ll tell you why. I could have divided my donors’ business cards into two stacks, with stack one wanting things that I knew stack two would never accept. And I have a feeling that’s going to be true of Elizabeth Warren’s non-rich donors as well.

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