Donald Trump says he has no plans to set up a sophisticated data-based operation to target specific voters in the general election, and said President Obama’s data-based campaigns are “overrated.”
Instead, he said he would continue to rely on his own ability to draw people out and get them to vote.
“I’ve always felt it was overrated,” Trump said in an interview with the Associated Press. “Obama got the votes much more so than his data processing machine. And I think the same is true with me.”
Obama successfully mined data on voters in both his 2008 and 2012 wins, and Hillary Clinton is attempting to do the same this election cycle. The Republican National Committee has also since heavily invested in data operations.
Yet, Trump is having none of it. Instead, Trump said he would spend “limited” money on voter data operations, and continue to invest in the huge rallies he has created across the country.
“My best investment is my rallies,” Trump said. “The people go home, they tell their friends they loved it. It’s been good.”
Trump also suggested that he may not run negative ads against Clinton, the presumed Democratic nominee.
“I just don’t find them to be very effective,” he explained. “I’ve had over $100 million in negative ads spent on me and every time it’s boosted my numbers.”
Trump may also avoid taking public financing for his campaign heading into the general election.
“I don’t like the idea of taking taxpayer money to run a campaign. I think it’s inappropriate,” he said.
Trump also repeated that he would release his tax returns once an ongoing audit is completed, but dismissed the idea that they would provide any shocking insights. “There’s nothing to learn from them,” Trump said.
