Bernie Sanders’ $34.5 million fourth quarter fundraising ‘astounding,’ strategists say

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders raked in $34.5 million in the final quarter of 2019, out-raising key Democratic rivals with a sizable sum strategists say makes him a force to be reckoned with heading into next month’s nominating contests.

Sanders smashed his own Democratic field-leading third-quarter haul of $25.3 million, posting the highest quarterly fundraising total of any of his party’s presidential hopefuls so far this election cycle.

The Vermont U.S. senator has collected more than $96 million since launching his bid in February.

His fundraising has been fueled by more than 5 million donations — a milestone Sanders didn’t hit during his 2016 bid until after Super Tuesday. The average contribution to his campaign is $18, and more than 99% of his donors have not yet maxed out, his campaign said.

Veteran pollster John Zogby said called the numbers “astounding.”

“This is the comeback of the year from a heart attack and actually declining poll numbers. He’s very much in the pack, in fact in second place nationally and arguably in first place in New Hampshire,” Zogby said. “This underscores precisely what folks have been saying right along — his loyal base is back with him solidly.”

Cash flowed in as Sanders recovered from an October heart attack. His team recently released letters from three doctors saying Sanders is in “good health.”

University of New Hampshire political science professor Dante Scala said Sanders’ fundraising “puts the exclamation point on an excellent month of news for Sanders” and will allow him to “continue to make significant television ad buys” in the first-in-the-nation Granite State.

As of Thursday, Sanders led his Democratic rivals by nearly $10 million in the fourth quarter. Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg raised $24.7 million. Though former Vice President Joe Biden lagged behind both at $22.7 million, it was his best fundraising quarter, up from a lackluster $15.2 million third quarter. Biden’s improved haul and his sizable lead in national polling “positions him as still the front-runner,” Zogby said.

Entrepreneur Andrew Yang brought in $16.5 million, his most to date. Elizabeth Warren, at $17 million just days ago, hadn’t released her total Thursday.

Impeachment helped pour $46 million into President Trump’s re-election campaign in the last quarter, giving him $102.7 million cash on hand.

“Trump is stockpiling resources while the Democrats are spending all the money they’re raising fighting each other. That’s a huge advantage,” said Republican strategist Ryan Williams.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/37rgnN2