Bernie Sanders raised $26 million in the third quarter, just shy of Hillary Clinton’s $28 million.
While the candidates do not have to report official results until Oct. 15, these early numbers should be disconcerting to Clinton. Of Sanders’ $26 million, $2 million was raised during the last day of fundraising. Last quarter the average donation to the Sanders campaign was $33, and this quarter he encouraged supporters to give just $13 to his campaign, in emails towards the end of the quarter.
His campaign reported that they have received more than 1.3 million donations from 650,000 donors, some giving more than once since his campaign started. In total, the Sanders campaign now has over $40 million, which gives the Vermont senator an opportunity to expand his message via TV ads before the first Democratic debate on Oct. 13.
Clinton has relied on large sum donations to fuel her fundraising. Throughout the month of September, the former secretary of state wined and dined big money Democrats at fundraisers in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Since the beginning of her campaign, launched in April, Clinton has raised an impressive $75 million. Her campaign hopes to reach $100 million by the end of 2015.
“We are thrilled and grateful for the support of hundreds of thousands of donors across the country, helping us raise a record $75 million in the first two quarters,” Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in a statement. “Thanks to our supporters, we are able to meet our goals and build an organization that can mobilize millions of voters to ensure Hillary Clinton is their fighter in the White House.”
In the previous quarter, Clinton led Sanders in donations $47.5 million to $15.2 million.
Democratic candidates Martin O’Malley, Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee have yet to release their numbers from the third quarter.
