The Chicago way: How Harris can make Musk's cash work for her in the coming days.
Here in Chicago, we have a long tradition of "walking around money" in political campaigns. We also know how to beat it.
In Pennsylvania, Elon Musk says he is giving away $1-Million randomly everyday to one registered voter who signed his petition to protect the first and second amendments. Those amendments are not under threat. Instead, Musk is using this lottery to build a right-wing database he can use to drive turnout efforts in this deeply divided state.
It’s an old Chicago political tradition taken to new levels. Back in the day, we called it “walking around money.”
Here’s how it worked. In the final days before an election, precinct captains, usually city pay-rollers whose jobs depended on less on their abilities to, say, plow a snowy street, than their talent in delivering their neighbors’ votes, would be given “walking around money.” The cash paid for things like coffee and donuts for election workers. It also paid for votes. In some parts of the city a smart ward healer could retire on walking around money. But even our most colorful and corrupt pols couldn’t imagine a $1-million a day jackpot.
For years walking around money was an effective, if legally dubious, path to victory in Chicago. Then came 1984, and the campaign of Harold Washington for mayor.
Harold was one of this city’s greatest talkers. He was running to become Chicago’s first Black mayor. As election approached Black wards were awash in walking around money from an incumbent political machine determined to stop him.
Harold didn’t complain. He had a better idea. He knew that a handful of cash was something struggling Chicagoans could put to good use. He also knew there was nothing he could do to stop the machine from handing it out to folks as they headed to vote.
Kamala Harris is in roughly the same spot. Her allies are complaining that Musk’s strategy is either illegal or corrupt. They should, instead, emulate Harold. Folks in Pennsylvania would be crazy not to take Musk’s money. Though the economy has improved a lot, people there are still struggling. Heck, even those who aren’t struggling should take a million from him if it’s offered. Harris’ allies look like they don’t care about ordinary folks when they try to stop the giveaway.
Harold knew better. He went to one of those wards where everybody knew the economy floated on walking around money in the weeks before the election. The press was with him, cameras rolling because they were sure he would denounce this long Chicago tradition, and those behind it. Instead, Harold beamed. He couldn’t be happier. He looked right into the cameras and said to everyone out there, “take their money and vote for me!”
In that moment, he acknowledged how important the money was to people, and he gave them permission to take it. Suddenly, the political calculus flipped. The machine was now paying people to vote for Harold rather than against him.
Photo Credit: Michael Swensen/Getty Images
If I were advising Kamala Harris, and to be clear, I’m glad I am not because her campaign has far more brilliant than anything I could have imagined, my counsel would be to go Pennsylvania and encourage everyone in the state to sign Musk’s petition. Joyfully, tell them all to sign the petition as fast as possible, because who doesn’t want a shot a million bucks. Tell her supporters not to leave this windfall to MAGA true believers. Turn it into a statewide giveaway.
And look right at the camera when you tell everyone, to “take his money and vote for me!”