MAYOR PETE RAKES IT IN
Buttigieg out-raises rivals in Mass., N.H.
Presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg blew past his Democratic rivals in secondquarter fundraising, out-performing top-tier candidates in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire on his way to a total haul of nearly $25 million, data shows.
The South Bend, Ind., mayor, who usually sits fifth or sixth in polls, trumped U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in her home state, receiving $980,856, according to a Herald analysis of secondquarter campaign contributions. Warren took in $799,124, according to the Federal Election Commission data. Front-runner Joe Biden received $591,049 in contributions from the Bay State, while U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders received $224,410.
Michael Ceraso, Buttigieg’s New Hampshire state director, said his “message has clearly broken through with Massachusetts voters. Over the past few months, we’ve seen surging grassroots support — including a flood of new volunteers — across Massachusetts. Bay State voters know that the typical way of doing things in D.C. will not solve the challenges facing our country — and that’s why they are supporting Pete.”
Boston-based Democratic strategist Scott Ferson said Buttigieg’s haul is “impressive” and “shows there’s genuine excitement in Massachusetts for him.”
But, Ferson said it doesn’t necessarily spell bad news for Warren.
“I don’t think she has a strategy to try to vacuum up every dollar in Massachusetts,” Ferson said, adding, “She’s not the type of person who would panic because somebody out-raised her. … The only risk you run is she could possibly lose Massachusetts. But I find that hard to believe.”
Buttigieg also topped the list of contributions to Democratic Oval Office hopefuls in New Hampshire. The South Bend mayor raised $65,689 there during the second quarter, while Sanders received $46,327, Warren raised $41,204 and Biden received $40,537, according to FEC data. The FEC said the data does not account for unitemized contributions of $200 or less. Buttigieg’s nationwide total for the second quarter was $24.8 million, compared to Biden’s $21.5 million, Warren’s $19.1 million and Sanders’ $18 million.
Candidates such as Biden and Buttigieg have been detouring from the campaign trail in New Hampshire to pop into Massachusetts for fundraisers. Biden attended events at the Park Plaza Hotel and in Chestnut Hill in early June. Buttigieg drew a full house of more than 850 people to the Somerville Theatre in late April, and has dropped into the state for large-dollar events several times since.
“There’s a lot of money — a lot of liberal money — in Massachusetts,” said Elaine Kamarck of the Brookings Institution. “The state is doing very well, it’s got a great economy going, particularly compared to some other states. It makes it a perfect place to come fundraising.”
Warren — who swore off big-donor events — has still raised the most of any candidate in Massachusetts when looking at the entire 2020 cycle so far, with $1.3 million. Buttigieg has raised just over $1 million, according to the FEC, while Biden raised $591,049. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton of Salem received the fourth most, $571,888, while Sanders received $374,783.
Buttigieg tops the field of Democratic candidates’ overall contributions from Granite State voters with $85,239. Sanders was second with $67,605, Warren third with $56,025 and Biden — who did not launch his campaign until after the start of the second-quarter — received $40,537.