Jeb Bush is crushing Hillary Clinton in the 2016 money race


Wednesday was the deadline for 2016 presidential campaigns to file financial reports with the Federal Elections Commission, and two things are already apparent: There will be a lot of money in the 2016 presidential race, and Jeb Bush is pulling ahead, thanks mostly to his super PAC Right to Rise:
Bush, the Republican former governor or Florida, has raised $11.4 million in his 16 days as an official candidate — $9.6 million from people who maxed out their donations at $2,700 — and Right to Rise said last week it has raked in $103 million, bringing Bush's total so far to $119 million (the extra $5 million is from other super PACs). All together, Republican candidates have brought in more than $280 million for an election 16 months away, Politico notes.
Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, has a total of $71.5 million, with $47.5 million in contributions directly to her campaign and $24 million to allied super PACs, primarily Priorities USA Action. Only about 17 percent of Clinton's direct haul came from small donations of $200 or less. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Clinton's closest rival for the Democratic nomination, has brought in $15.2 million, mostly from smaller donors. Clinton has used her money differently, too, spending more than $18 million from her war chest to set up a national campaign.
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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