Khizr Khan electrified the Presidential race like no anti-Trump strategy has ever done.
Not only Khan’s stirring speech, but the Republican nominee’s utterly disastrous reaction to it, have seemingly decisively shifted the polls. A lead after the Republican convention for Trump became a slide of epic proportions.
Now there is a grassroots campaign to get Khan to stand himself. Crowdpac, the political crowdfunding website where ordinary people can seed campaigns, has seen a surge of small donations to ‘draft Khizr Khan.’
The site itself is politically neutral. Another campaign, better liked by Trump supporters, wanted to raise funds for a primary challenge to Ted Cruz, for example – although it’s not as popular.
Steve Hilton, who started the site after advising David Cameron during his years as Prime Minister, and who took an active part in the victorious Brexit campaign, siding against his former boss, spoke exclusively to Heat Street about the Khizr Khan campaign:
“This is exactly why I started Crowdpac – to open up politics and make it easier for people to nominate candidates, or run for office themselves, without the backing of the party machines. I don’t know whether Mr Khan is actually going to run but what’s clear is that he has a lot of support – people putting actual money down to encourage him to run.”
The Philadelphia News noticed the story first:
U.S. Army Vietnam veteran Tom Keefe nominated Khan to run for the Virginia General Assembly on Crowdpac.
Crowdpac is the Kickstarter of politics. On the website, you can nominate anyone you’d like to run for office, with or without their permission. Supporters can then pledge money to the nominee’s campaign, but their credit cards will be charged only if the nominee decides to run.
The vet who nominated Khan would like him to run in Virginia – in the 58th State District, that is to say, to run for a small state office that could lead in due time to Congress. The primary will be fought next year. Tim Kaine, Hillary’s Veep nominee, stems from the swing state, where Clinton’s lead over Trump has increased since Khan’s fiery appeal to the Constitution. Crowdpac specializes in raising funds for small offices like these that may not need a giant fundraising machine.
A state office for Khan could be a smart move with a wider impact. The PR such a run would generate would impact on the national race and ensure Khan the support of a grateful Democratic party.
Tom Keefe wrote on Crowdpac:
We need more candidates like Khizr Khan, not Donald Trump, to run for office in America. Mr. Khan is someone who has achieved the American Dream and made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Donald Trump couldn’t even name a single sacrifice he has made. Help draft Khizr Khan to run for State Delegate in the 58th district in Virginia. He would be the first ever Muslim American to hold this seat. By making a pledge to this campaign, you can show Mr. Khan he has the support he needs to run. Remember: your card will NOT be charged unless Mr. Khan declares to run for the VA House of the Delegates. In this unfortunate climate of misinformation about minorities and immigrants, let’s send a message to Donald Trump and his supporters – this is the kind of candidate we want running for office in our country – this is the kind of candidate that we can be proud of. Yes We Khan!
If the campaign gathers steam, Donald Trump may find Khan’s unwelcome intervention in his campaign lasts longer than the news cycle he’s already prolonged. You can donate here – or find innumerable other causes to support.