The Faith & Freedom Coalition, a prominent evangelical advocacy group, has pledged a substantial $62 million investment in support of former President Donald Trump’s potential bid to return to the White House. Led by Ralph Reed, the organization aims to leverage these funds to bolster evangelical voter registration efforts, employing a comprehensive strategy that includes grassroots outreach such as door-knocking, texting, phone calls to supporters, and the dissemination of 30 million pieces of literature across 125,000 churches in battleground states. This initiative represents a significant increase of $10 million compared to the coalition’s spending during the 2020 election cycle.
Ralph Reed, a seasoned Republican strategist and a staunch ally of Trump, emphasized the scale of the endeavor, asserting that it stands as the most extensive outreach effort on the conservative side outside of the Republican National Committee. This substantial financial commitment underscores the potential hurdles facing Trump, particularly in light of his financial disparity with President Joe Biden. Trump’s campaign coffers lag behind, with a reported $30 million at the end of January, just over half of Biden’s total. Similarly, the Republican National Committee’s $8 million on hand represents only a third of its Democratic counterpart.
Despite acknowledging the financial gap, Reed pointed to Trump’s 2016 victory as evidence of overcoming similar challenges. He highlighted the historic spending differentials observed in recent election cycles, particularly in statewide and Senate races. Notwithstanding these concerns, Trump currently commands the support of 77 percent of evangelical voters, who applaud his unwavering stance on Israel and his successful appointments of three conservative Supreme Court justices.
The coalition’s announcement aligns with Trump’s recent declaration to resist what he perceives as a “corrupt” judicial system, even if it entails facing legal repercussions. Addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump lambasted President Biden and his legal representatives, asserting his commitment to prioritize freedom over capitulating to what he characterized as a cohort of “thugs, tyrants, and fascist scoundrels.” Trump’s impassioned remarks struck a chord with his base, reaffirming his resolve to confront perceived injustices head-on.
