Hillary Clinton crushed Donald Trump in May fundraising
The Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump campaigns released their most recent finance reports on Monday night, and if money were votes and the election was on June 1, Clinton would have won in a landslide. In May, Trump brought in $3.1 million, gave his campaign another $2.2 million loan — bringing his personal loan total to about $46 million — and began June with $1.3 million in the bank, or less than the $3.8 million a month the Clinton campaign spends to employ 683 staffers. Clinton raised more than $28 million in May, beginning June with a war chest of $42 million. Her main super PAC raised another $12 million, while the main pro-Trump super PAC, Great America PAC, brought in just over $1 million
Trump's fundraising numbers are "disastrously bad," says Chris Cillizza at The Washington Post, and his "paltry fundraising last month is totally inexplicable given that he effectively secured the Republican presidential nomination on May 3." The "stunning gap" between his haul and Clinton's "virtually guarantees Clinton advantages in every aspect of the campaign," Cillizza adds. "If fundraising is, at its root, a test of whether you can get people to vote for you with their checkbooks, Trump failed in May. And he failed with every possible advantage working for him: Momentum, decent-to-good polling and, at least for part of the month, a Republican Party that seemed willing to unify behind him."
The Republican National Committee is doing better, bringing in $13 million in May and beginning June with $20 million in the bank an $7 million in debt; the Democratic National Committee brought in $12.3 million, but ended May with only $9 million in the bank and $7.9 million in debt. The GOP is getting some extra help in its efforts to keep its majority in the Senate, with the Freedom Partners Action Fund, led by Charles and David Koch, bringing in $8 million for that effort and beginning June with $14 in cash on hand. Sen. Bernie Sanders also reported his numbers Monday night — he raised $15.7 million in May and began June with $9.2 million in the bank.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 17, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - political anxiety, jury sorting hat, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Arid Gulf states hit with year's worth of rain
Speed Read The historic flooding in Dubai is tied to climate change
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
USC under fire for canceling valedictorian speech
Speed Read Citing safety concerns, the university canceled a pro-Palestinian student's speech
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?
Speed Read Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress honors real-life Rosie the Riveters
Speed Read These American women reshaped the work force during World War II
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Outgunned Ukraine could fall, US general warns
Speed Read Without more US aid, Ukraine is at risk of losing the war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House GOP scuttles FISA vote at Trump's urging
Speed Read Right-wing lawmakers blocked Speaker Mike Johnson's surveillance bill
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published