Bernie Sanders quadrupled his campaign spending in Iowa during the third quarter, according to the latest numbers, as the Vermont senator ups his efforts to compete with front-runner Hillary Clinton.
During the three-month period from the end of June to the end of September, Sanders spent $477,115 campaigning in Iowa, whereas Clinton spent only $338,072. Although Sanders outspent Clinton during this quarter, the former secretary of state still has spent more than him overall in the Hawkeye State, with $813,716 in total spending to the senator’s $583,563.
Sanders’ increase in spending directly correlates with the weeks the candidate did best in the polls. In the end of August and early September, the democratic socialist trailed Clinton by less than 10 points. During the second quarter, when the Sanders campaign spent only $106,448 in Iowa, the candidate did not gain any traction against Clinton.
Today the Sanders campaign has a much bigger operation in Iowa, with multiple staffers on the ground mobilizing supporters as the senator makes numerous campaign stops in the state. But the Clinton campaign still has more paid staffers on the ground in Iowa and she has spent more time there. The front-runner also benefits from having spent a lot of time in the state during her 2008 campaign, although she finished third behind Barack Obama and John Edwards.
After his end of summer surge, Sanders has fallen over twenty points behind Clinton, trailing her 53.8-29.8.
