(Headline USA) Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are dominating the fight for campaign cash in the Republican presidential contest, according to federal filings made public Saturday.
On the Democratic side, Joe Biden‘s reelection campaign, though behind Obama’s re-election numbers, are sufficient, but Democratic primary opponent Robert Kennedy Jr. also raised enough to ensure he won’t be ignored.
The federal reports offer several insights six months before the first primary votes are cast.
While Trump is leading most polls, he and DeSantis are in a tier of their own on the fundraising front.
Trump’s team recently confirmed that his joint fundraising operation — which splits money between Trump’s campaign and the Save America PAC — received $35 million in the second quarter.
Overall, Trump’s campaign reported more than $22.5 million in the bank as of June 30. The average donation to the former president’s campaign now stands at $34, evidence of his grassroots backing.
Meanwhile, DeSantis raised more than $20 million for the first six weeks he was in the race. While a massive sum, the Florida governor also burned through nearly $8 million over the same period, leaving his campaign with $12.2 million at the end of June. DeSantis’ report also shows a significant reliance on high-dollar donors who won’t be able to give any more money to his campaign.
Despite the potential warning signs, DeSantis’ allied super PAC, said it raised a stunning $130 million since the committee launched in March. More than half of that came from a state-level political committee once controlled by DeSantis.
DeSantis’ fundraising will buy him some time to strengthen his candidacy as he tries to catch Trump in the polls.
The fundraising numbers carry additional significance because they are tied directly to the GOP’s first presidential debate next month.
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and conservative businessman Vivek Ramaswamy announced in recent days they had reached the 40,000 donor threshold. Pence has yet to make such an announcement.
Biden and the Democratic National Committee have raised $72 million for his reelection in the 10 weeks since he announced his 2024 candidacy.
Biden’s fundraising total includes donations to his campaign and to a network of joint fundraising arrangements with the national and state parties. While sufficient, it is well behind Obama’s totals for his lack luster re-election bid. Obama raised $85.6 million during the April-to-June quarter in 2011 when he launched his campaign for a second term.
Biden’s lackluster fundraising comes as another Democrat, RFK Jr., picks up steam.
Kennedy, though unpopular with the Democratic Party establishment and media has raised enough money to ensure he won’t be ignored completely.
Kennedy’s campaign raised nearly 6.4 million for the quarter and had $4.5 million in the bank as of June 30. A pro-Kennedy super PAC, meanwhile, said it has raised more than $10 million so far.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press
