When Abraham Lincoln ran for Congress in 1846, his Whig Party (a precursor to the Republican Party) allotted $200 for his campaign.
Not wanting to waste money, Lincoln traveled on his own horse, stayed overnight with friends, and paid his own meals (because he had to eat anyway).
His only expenditure of party funds was 75 cents for hard cider at one of his speaking events. Back then, it was custom for the organizer to provide alcoholic refreshments to all attendees, and his organizer had failed to do so. Not wanting a riot, Lincoln secured some hard cider.
Since I can travel the state in my own car and stay with friends, if necessary, I’m going to try to run this initial campaign on a shoestring, bootstrapping it — in solidarity with those, including myself, who think there is too much waste in both campaigning and governing.
Thus, at this time, I am NOT accepting donations.
I do not want to waste money, yours, or in the future, the taxpayer’s.