Attachment of e-mail I and other supporters got explaining the Harris campaign reorganization
" TO: Kamala Harris for the People Team, Supporters, & Interested Parties
FROM: Juan Rodriguez, Campaign Manager
MEMO: Next Steps & Organization Realignment
With fewer than 100 days until the Iowa Caucus and in a competitive resources environment, we are implementing an organizational realignment to go all-in on Iowa.
Since the launch of the campaign, Kamala Harris and this team has raised more than $35 million from over 350,000 donors, with an average contribution of $34. We ended the last quarter with the fourth most cash on hand, and continue to receive endorsements and grassroots support across the country. However, in a field of 18 candidates, we face an incredibly competitive resource environment. To effectively compete with the top campaigns and make the necessary investments in the critical final 100 days to the caucus, we need to reduce expenditures elsewhere and realign resources.
From the beginning of this campaign, Kamala Harris and this team set out with one goal - to win the nomination and defeat Donald Trump in 2020. This requires us to make difficult strategic decisions and make clear priorities, not threaten to drop out or deploy gimmicks. Plenty of winning primary campaigns, like John Kerrys in 2004 and John McCains in 2008, have had to make tough choices on their way to the nomination, and this is no different.
Reduction in HQ expenditures to bolster Iowa investments: First, to reduce campaign expenditures, I will take a pay cut along with all consultants, we will trim and renegotiate contracts, and we will also reduce the size of our headquarters staff. These decisions are difficult but will ensure the campaign is positioned to execute a robust Iowa ground game and a minimum 7-figure paid media campaign in the weeks leading up to the caucus.
Deployment of staff to Iowa: Second, in the coming weeks, we will deploy many field staff from New Hampshire, Nevada, and California and some staff from headquarters to Iowa for the home stretch of the caucus campaign. The South Carolina operation will remain in full force and will not change. These moves will increase the number of field organizers and staff we have on the ground in the first contest and give our campaign the organizational muscle needed to compete in every precinct.
Kamala all-in on Iowa: In the month of October, no candidate spent more time in Iowa than Kamala -- she made 5 trips and spent 15 days in the Hawkeye State -- about 10 more days than any other candidate. In November, she will continue to spend significant time in Iowa, including spending Thanksgiving there, to meet caucus goers at town halls and in coffee shops, on farms and at dining room tables. She is determined to earn the support of every caucus goer she can in the next 96 days."