Trump is either in debt or already running for re-election
Thirty-six hours after Donald Trump won the presidential election, his campaign committee is still asking supporters for money, calling into question the amount of debt the campaign racked up in the final days of the race.
An email to supporters with the subject line "Thank You," has a bright red "Contribute" button at the bottom of the email.
Campaign finance law says a candidate can continue to raise money after Election Day to pay off any debts or to raise money for re-election.
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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at his election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 9, 2016.
(REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)
Donald Trump supporters cheer as U.S. presidential election results are announced during a Republican watch party in Phoenix, Arizona, November 8, 2016.
(REUTERS/Nancy Wiechec)
Republican president-elect Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States.
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and his campaign manager Kellyanne Conway greet supporters during his election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 9, 2016.
(REUTERS/Mike Segar/TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. look on as Republican presidential elect Donald Trump speaks during election night at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 9, 2016.
(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
US President-elect Donald Trump arrives at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 8, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States.
(SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump greets supporters at his election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 9, 2016.
(REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)
Vice president-elect Mike Pence speaks to supporters at Republican president-elect Donald Trump's election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Republican president-elect Donald Trump walks on stage with his son Barron Trump, wife Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States.
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
A supporter celebrates as returns come in for Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump during an election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 8, 2016.
(REUTERS/Mike Segar)
Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) Reince Priebus hugs Republican presidential elect Donald Trump during election night at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 9, 2016.
(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani arrives on stage with his wife Judith Nathan as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump addressed supporters at his election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 9, 2016.
(REUTERS/Brendan McDermid)
US President-elect Donald Trump greets son Eric after speaking at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 8, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States.
(SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Vice president-elect Mike Pence walks on stage with his wife Karen Pence at Republican president-elect Donald Trump election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Americans went to the polls yesterday to choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
US President-elect Donald Trump arrives with his son Baron and wife Melania at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 8, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States.
(SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, speaks an election night party at the Hilton Midtown hotel in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States in a repudiation of the political establishment that jolted financial markets and likely will reorder the nation's priorities and fundamentally alter America's relationship with the world.
(Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump look on as Republican presidential elect Donald Trump speaks during election night at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 9, 2016.
(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election night party at the Hilton Midtown hotel in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. Trump racked up victory after victory in key states Tuesday to put himself in position to threaten Hillary Clinton for the White House, with the results in three Rust-Belt states likely to determine the next U.S. president.
(Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Republican president-elect Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States.
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Attendees cheer during an election night party for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the Hilton Midtown hotel in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States in a repudiation of the political establishment that jolted financial markets and likely will reorder the nation's priorities and fundamentally alter America's relationship with the world.
(Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Debt is a possibility. At the end of the last fundraising report on Oct. 20, Trump had an uninspiring $16 million cash on hand and was also $2 million in debt.
Trump gave himself a $10 million infusion on Oct. 21 to help carry him through the final, expensive days of campaigning.
A disclaimer on his website says the first $2,700 donated "will be allocated first to 2016 General Election Debt Retirement." The next campaign finance reports detailing Trump's spending and debt will be released on Dec. 8.
Brendan Fischer with the Campaign Legal Center wonders why Trump would raise money to pay off any debt since he has contributed just $66 million to his own campaign — despite publicly and repeatedly saying he would contribute $100 million to his candidacy.
"Given these facts, it is surprising that Trump appears to be asking his supporters to pay down his campaign debts rather than paying out of his own pocket," Fischer said.
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The alternative: He's already thinking about 2020. His website also says that a second $2,700 "will be designated to the 2020 Primary Election."
The fundraising email is from Trump's Make America Great Again Committee, a joint fundraising committee between Trump and the Republican National Committee in which the Trump campaign receives 80 percent of the donations. It's the committee that raised most of Trump's small-dollar donations.
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