One of the challenges of running Slatecard is always having to be compared to a website on the Left, ActBlue, which has been operating four times longer than we have.

For example, even a good reporter like Matthew Mosk of the Washington Post makes the mistake of comparing the current standings/totals raised of ActBlue v. Slatecard. But doing so is like comparing apples to an apple seed. Trust me, I know the guys at ActBlue, they will be the first to tell you how hard it took them to get where they are today. 

Success does not happen overnight. There is no silverbullet.

Hopeful that we'll start seeing honest apples to apples comparisons, I left a comment on the post:

Matthew -

Indeed, ActBlue is a tremendous resource for the Left and no one would discount their current success. However, they will be the first to tell you that their success did not happen overnight. It takes dedication and time. You have to build the machine before it runs.

So I would respectfully note that this piece misinforms readers by comparing apples to an apple seed.

Let's try apples to apples for a go.

ActBlue's first election cycle (2004) they raised a total of either $791,900 or $890K depending on whether you want to source the Wall Street Journal or ActBlue. I blogged about it here. I still don't exactly know what they pulled in their first cycle except that it was less than $1M.

Slatecard, of which I'm a co-founder, hopes to raise more than a million this election cycle to beat ActBlue's first cycle. Yes, we have about half a million to go to meet our challenge.

Can we do it? I don't know. It is in the hands of the Republican community.

ActBlue has said it would pull in $100M this election cycle. How's that working out for them?

Look, we are working hard everyday on a volunteer basis to offer the most dynamic, cost-effective platform for Republican candidates.

And leaders like U.S. Senator Jim DeMint have embraced the platform because of its lowest-in-market processing fees and new tools it offers his campaign for FREE.

But at the end of the day -- successful at reaching our goal or not -- developing a tool that effectively empowers Republican grassroots activists and candidates is a win in our book.

I appreciate your focus on this space and I'm very hopeful that you'll better paint the picture for your readers by providing more historical analysis and context.

Revolution,

David All
Slatecard.com