Donald Trump’s fundraising machine picked up steam in June, raking in $26.7 million, but still has a long way to go before it catches the amount raised by Hillary Clinton.
The Republican nominee had $20.2 million on hand to end the month, a large increase over his $1.3 million finish the previous month, placing him in the strongest financial position he’s had since becoming a candidate.
Nearly half of Trump’s contributions were under $200, showing strong grassroots support. Trump also gave his campaign a little more than $2.2 million, the smallest amount since the beginning of the year and spent just $7.8 million in June.
The candidate also apparently kept his campaign promise by forgiving the nearly $50 million in personal loans to his campaign.
While the amount Trump raised this month moves him more in line with former GOP nominee Mitt Romney at this stage of the election in 2012 — Romney had $22.5 million on hand — Clinton began July with more than double Trump’s on-hand total.
Her campaign announced late Wednesday a total of about $44 million on hand, while raising $69 million in June for Hillary for America, the Democratic National Committee and state parties.
