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Obama campaign first to accept donations via text message
President Obama's campaign announced Thursday that it would become the first political campaign to accept donations via text message, with supporters able to make contributions up to $50 per cellphone billing cycle by firing off a quick text.
Supporters can make the donations by texting "GIVE" to 62262 — numbers that correspond to the spelling of "Obama" using a telephone keypad.
“Grassroots giving is powering this campaign,” said Obama campaign manager Jim Messina in a statement. “Accepting small donations by text message will help us engage even more grassroots supporters who want to play a role by donating whatever they can afford to the campaign — and get the president reelected in November.”
The campaign said it would promote giving via text at campaign events and on online Web videos — times they believe Obama supporters would be inclined to grab their phones and make a quick donation. The service could also get big play at the Democratic convention in two weeks, with the campaign hoping to encourage new giving through the novelty of the text messaging service.
The text donations became possible after the Federal Election Commission issued a series of advisory opinions in recent months ironing out the logistics of the program. Both the Obama and Romney campaigns encouraged the FEC to allow the donations, although the Romney campaign has not yet announced plans for a similar text-based donor program.
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