In the months prior to him telling Howard Stern quite bluntly “f*** no, I’m not running for Senate,” the nation was convinced that Kid Rock was legitimately launching a Senate campaign.
Three months prior, the singer had decided to respond to rumors that he’d be running for Senate – by running with it even though he had no actual intent of running. Despite never filing the official paperwork with the FEC, he was selling “Kid Rock for Senate” themed merchandise to fund his campaign. Since he technically wasn’t a real candidate, there was some concern initially over whether or not he would be getting himself into federal trouble over the campaign stunt, but it appears not. There’s no reason to fine him anyway; it’s not like he took direct cash donations for a non-existent campaign. He just sold merchandise that teased and played off the theme of a campaign.
It’s a drop in the bucket for him, but he did manage to bank $122,000 from his promotional Senate campaign, and has redistributed it to the Republican Party. According to the Detroit News,
Kid Rock last month donated $122,000 of the money raised by selling merchandise promoting “Kid Rock for US Senate” — his fake political campaign — to a voter-registration organization affiliated with the College Republicans, his publicist said.
Earlier, while exploring a “very possible campaign,” Kid Rock said in July that money raised “at this time” from the sale of political yard signs, bumper stickers, hats and T-shirts would benefit a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization he would create to promote voter registration.
The money raised went to CRNC Action, an affiliate of the College Republicans that did voter-registration work last summer at his concerts, said Kid Rock publicist Jay Jones. Ted Dooley, the president of CRNC Action, confirmed that a donation of about $122,000 was made in early December. He also confirmed the group staffed the voter-registration tables at Kid Rock’s concerts last summer.
Most of his Senate apparel remains for sale on his website today.
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