Booker could end campaign if fundraising doesn’t pick up

MANCHESTER, N.H. >> Lagging in polling and fundraising, Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker said Saturday that he may end his run unless donations from supporters increase quickly.

“If you believe in me, this is the time to help because without it we shouldn’t be in this race,” he told CNN.

His campaign manager, Addisu Demissie, said in a memo made public that the New Jersey senator needed to raise an additional $1.7 million by Sept. 30 to remain competitive in the crowded field of candidates seeking the nomination.

“If we’re not able to build the campaign organization, which means raise the money that we need to win the nomination, Cory’s not going to continue running and consuming resources that are better used on focusing on beating Donald Trump,” he said.

With such a fundraising surge, the campaign does “not see a legitimate longterm path forward,” according to the memo.

“This isn’t an end-of-quarter stunt or another one of those memos from a campaign trying to spin the press,” the memo said, offering “a real, unvarnished look under the hood of our operation.”

Booker has qualified for a spot in the next debate, in October. But he struggled with fundraising and has yet to break through in early state or national polls.

“If we can’t raise this $1.7 million, we’re going to have to make the tough decisions that I think that any campaign that doesn’t have a pathway to victory should make,” Booker said.