Democratic campaigns have raised at least $64.5 million in the first quarter, they said.
By Michelle Ye Hee Lee Michelle Ye Hee Lee National political enterprise and accountability reporter covering money and influence in politics Email Bio Follow April 12 at 8:00 AM The limited early fundraising hauls announced by Democratic presidential hopefuls show that no clear front-runner has yet emerged in the race, and portend a drawn-out and divisive primary slog before the party unifies against President Trump.
Sen. Bernie Sanders reported the biggest haul, at $18.2 million, followed by $12 million by Sen. Kamala D. Harris and $9.4 million by former congressman Beto O’Rourke . Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Ind., reportedly raised $7 million — a large haul for a newcomer to national politics. Rufus Gifford, finance director for Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, said campaigns are hindering themselves by failing to maximize all sources of money, which includes courting wealthier donors willing to give up to the limit of $2,800. Their support, he said, will be crucial once the nominee is selected.
The eventual nominee will go up against a foe who has been aggressively fundraising for two years, with no primary to spend on so far. By the end of last year, Trump’s campaign had raised more than $129 million for his reelection — an enormous sum that gives him a formidable head start that has likely widened in the first quarter of this year.Trump’s record-breaking reelection cash haul has allowed the Republican Party to finesse its data program to better engage voters.
That means the stakes are higher for candidates to deliver a stellar performance at the first Democratic National Committee debate in June, their first high-profile chance at distinguishing themselves to voters. In the past, candidates who drew the most money from wealthy donors early in the campaign were seen as the most competitive. This year, candidates are eschewing rich donors writing $2,800 checks and emphasizing online donors who give less than $200 at a time.
“I helped Kamala [Harris], I sent emails about Cory [Booker], I’m helping a friend blast out her email for [John] Hickenlooper,” he said. “We’re just so catatonic with the daily horror of the Trump administration. We just want to win, but we can’t move yet until we know how we’re going to win.”At a donor gathering last month in Miami, Messina asked 107 of the Democratic Party’s biggest bundlers whether they had committed to a presidential candidate. Just four raised their hand, he said.
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