Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) raised $12 million in her first months as a presidential candidate, her campaign announced Monday evening, a strong haul but one that may be overshadowed by other candidates.
That total came from 218,000 donors, Harris’s campaign said, with about half of that coming from small online donations — the life’s blood of modern campaigns.
“A nationwide network of hundreds of thousands of grassroots supporters has stepped up to lay the foundation for a winning campaign,” Harris campaign manager Juan Rodriguez said in a statement.
The average donation from her digital side was $28 — but that’s only half the story. Harris did not release what her actual average donation was, a sign it’s likely higher than other candidates’ and that her fundraising apparatus is more reliant on big donors than others in the field. But she did say that 99.45% of her donors could donate again, meaning they haven’t hit the federal maximum donation of $2,800.
For comparison, upstart South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) raised $7 million from almost 160,000 donors, with an average donation of $36.35, though he is less known with much less infrastructure than Harris.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) hasn’t released his fundraising numbers yet, but his campaign set out the goal of reaching 1 million donors this quarter. If he hits that and keeps up his average donation of $27, that would put him far beyond the rest of the current field.
It remains to be seen whether Harris can keep up her solid fundraising pace — but the strong if not overwhelming fundraising figures match her current status as a first-tier but not front-running candidate.
While I prefer candidates who do not rely on large donations, I am glad she is finding support. I can only hope she uses some of the money to better address questions about some of her shifts in policy.
Respectable sum.
Sure, but how long before we hear Sen Harris inappropriately smelled a lady’s hair and rubbed her nose?
ETA: Too Soon?
Excellent!
Now Team George can hate on her for that, too.
(PS: Don’t tell them that Bernie’s desperate to bag over twice that.)
Once Biden declares, she’s going to be facing rough straits.