Despite attracting praise from many of fossil fuel chieftains, the Trump campaign has seen dismal fundraising yields in the energy sector.
In his speech at the Republican convention last month Harold Hamm, CEO of Continental Resources Shale Oil Company, heaped praise on Donald Trump, and he wasn't the only one with big players in the natural gas and coal industries spearheading fundraisers. Despite the endorsements, thanks in large part to his pro-oil and coal rhetoric, donations from the energy sector have been dismal.
GOP energy operatives and analysts have suggested that the low fundraising yields are seemingly due to nervousness about Trump's thin policy statements and volatile temperament as well as the difficult times many companies are going through.
Trump's campaign received $195,166 through June from coal, oil, gas and electric utilities which pales in comparison to the $8,606,958 that fellow Republican Mitt Romney pulled in four years ago.
Rick Shelby, a lobbyist and senior adviser to the Amercian Gas Association, said he thought that the majority of people in the industry were going to vote for Trump, but cautioned that "until he comes out with a comprehensive, detailed plan there will be a tepid response."
Former top lobbyist for the ConocoPhillips energy corporation, Don Duncan agrees, he said: "An awful lot of people are staying on the sidelines because they have no idea what to expect of Trump." Adding that Trump was seen by many voters who back fossil fuels at "the lesser of two evils" with Hillary Clinton championing alternative fuels and repeatedly stressing the real threat of climate change.
Trump's shifting and unpredictable views are underscored by his stance on global warming, famously claiming that climate change was a "hoax created by and for the Chinese"; despite his company submitting a permit citing the threat of climate change when requesting permission to build a seawall to protect his Scottish golf course.
Energy analysts have also cited economic and political factors that may have impacted Trump's fundraising in the sector. Many oil and gas companies are facing big financial headaches, with the price of oil at around $40 per barrel .
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