2016 Presidential campaigns cashing in on Black Friday sales
As retailers pull out all the stops to attract customers for the biggest shopping weekend of the year, 2016 presidential candidates who want to drive up the number of dollars in their campaign coffers and the number supporters on their contact lists are also looking to cash in.
Several candidates have offered Black Friday merchandise deals, including Hillary Clinton, who's giving supporters half off the "Chillary Clinton Can Holder combo" and Rand Paul, who would like buyers to take 20 percent off a Bluetooth-enabled teddy bear stereo called the "Rand Liberty Bear."
"We tried to get beyond the standard signs, shirts and stickers and develop items people might want to gift," Rand Paul campaign store manager Steve Grubbs said.
Both Clinton's and Paul's online shops have put up select items for sale, rather than offering a store-wide discount. The Kentucky senator emailed supporters Friday urging them to check out his site which is also offering 20 percent off Liberty sunglasses and the Rand Paul Red Christmas Mug.
"The Rand Paul Store is one arm of our campaign fundraising, as well as a tool in our political outreach," Grubbs said. "Black Friday is a unique day where we can raise money for the campaign while getting more Rand Paul gear out amongst our supporters."
That sentiment was echoed by John Kasich's campaign, which told CBS News, "It's like two gifts at once."
"As people shop for friends and family we want to be sure they remember that they can get great gear and support the campaign at the same time," communications director Chris Scrhimpf said.
The Kasich campaign is offering 15 percent off its entire site, which consists of more traditional campaign items like hats, shirts, water bottles and mugs. Much like a traditional retailer, at check-out customers are prompted to enter the code "FRIDAY" to receive the discount. Similarly, with the promo-code "THANKS," supporters buying items from Jeb Bush's store will receive 20 percent off all items through the rest of the Thanksgiving weekend.
Donald Trump is offering supporters one of his favorite things: a deal.
"Today is a day to make great deals," his email reads. "Just as we will do as a Country if I am President."
Trump requests his supporters spend $50 or more through Monday in order to receive an "exclusive supporter pack." Marco Rubio's sales will also last through midnight on Cyber Monday -- perhaps a generational plug in answer to the traditional Black Friday -- where, in addition to free shipping, customers will receive "storewide discounts" among other perks.
While Democrats Bernie Sanders and former Governor Martin O'Malley have not yet advertised any specific deals, O'Malley did send a tweet directing supporters to his store.
Something advertised for the holidays that will not be on sale for Black Friday? A 3-foot tall "Giant Rand Paul Christmas Card" for $50, "complete with an equally gigantic envelope" because "why not" according to the campaign site.