Trump Has a Huge Fundraising Lead Over Democrats Heading into 2020

In the last three months of 2018, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign raised over $21 million, giving the President a huge head start over his Democratic challengers.

According to disclosures on candidate’s fundraising, this brings Trump’s reelection total at this point to more than $129 million – which is a record amount for a sitting President at this point in the presidential election.

This puts the many Democratic candidates who have declared they are running for president far behind Trump.

HUGE fundraising lead

The Washington Post notes one example of what kind of advantage this gives Trump. “For example, the Senate campaign committee of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) had $11 million by the time she announced her candidacy on Dec. 31, FEC filings show. This money can be transferred to her presidential campaign, but much of it is expected to be spent in the primaries.”

Obviously this doesn’t mean a candidate like Warren or any other Democrat can’t raise more that her $11 million, but does indicate that Trump begins in a much better financial position.

The President’s fundraising advantage is also noteworthy given what’s happening in Washington at the moment.

“Trump’s enormous haul in the fourth quarter came even as the president’s party lost its majority in the House during the midterm elections, and as Trump’s demand for a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border led to a partial shutdown of the federal government and sagging presidential approval ratings,” The Washington Post reports.

Ever the populist, it is remarkable that the majority of Trump’s funding comes from small donors. Almost 75 percent of what he’s raised comes from donors giving in sums of $200 or less, according to Federal Election Commission records.

“This is a true testament to President Trump’s fulfillment of his promises made to the forgotten men and women of America,” said chief operating officer for the campaign, Michael Glassner.

How might Trump’s fundraising lead pan out in 2020?

According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 56 percent of Americans say they would “definitely not vote for” Trump in the next election.

“Some Republicans have hinted they may challenge Trump in the party primaries. And nearly one in three Republicans and GOP-leaning independents said they would like to nominate someone other than Trump to be the Republican presidential candidate in 2020, the poll found,” reports the Washington Post. “Amid these threats, the RNC last week unanimously voted for a resolution of ‘undivided support’ for Trump and his presidency.”