US

Kamala Harris’s main fundraising group raised four times as much as Trump in July

US vice-president also heavily outspent her rival for the White House last month, new filings show

Democratic Party candidates for US president and vice-president, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, on stage during a campaign rally, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday. Photograph: Erin Schaff/New York Times
Democratic Party candidates for US president and vice-president, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, on stage during a campaign rally, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday. Photograph: Erin Schaff/New York Times
Wed Aug 21 2024 - 14:05

Kamala Harris’s main campaign fundraising group raised four times as much money in July as that raised by Donald Trump’s campaign, according to federal disclosures filed late on Tuesday, a sign of enthusiasm ahead of the November 5th US presidential election.

Ms Harris’s campaign told the Federal Election Commission it raised $204 million (€183 million) last month, compared to $48 million reported to the body by Mr Trump’s main fundraising group.

Ms Harris’s figures include money raised during the month before she launched her candidacy on July 21st, when President Joe Biden folded his flagging re-election effort. Mr Biden endorsed Ms Harris, the vice-president, who took over control of his fundraising group.

Ms Harris also outspent Mr Trump during the month, $81 million to $24 million, according to their FEC reports.

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The Harris campaign had previously announced that it and the Democratic Party’s main fundraising group had raised a combined $310 million in July, while the Trump campaign had similarly said that it and the Republican Party had raised a combined $138 million.

While the candidates and their parties work together, the sums raised by the campaign are important because the campaigns are by law given steep discounts on television ads, while the parties and other allied groups must pay full price.

Mr Trump’s re-election effort also received a massive contribution last month from conservative billionaire Timothy Mellon, who gave the pro-Trump super Pac known as MagaA Inc another $50 million. Mr Mellon, an heir of the Pittsburgh-based Mellon banking family, has given Maga Inc at least $115 million this year.

The super Pac, or political fundraising vehicle, is one of the biggest spenders in the election, and reported spending more than $43 million in July to help Mr Trump’s election effort. – Reuters

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