Fundraising sluggish for Dem candidates

WASHINGTON (AP) — The crowded field of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates is showing early signs of money trouble as donors sit on the sidelines to see how the contest unfolds, signaling a drawn-out primary ahead.

The Democratic campaign came into greater focus on Monday as declared White House hopefuls reported their first quarter fundraising totals. Early glimpses provided by nine of the more than a dozen declared candidates show that Democrats are raising less money than they have in previous cycles and are coming up short against the campaign bank account President Donald Trump is building.

Democrats collectively raised about $68 million since January. That’s less than the $81 million Democrats raised during the same period in 2007, the last time the party had an open primary, according to data from the Federal Election Commission. And it pales in comparison with the $30 million Trump raised.

For now, Bernie Sanders is leading the scramble for cash. The Vermont senator pulled in $18 million, followed by California Sen. Kamala Harris with $12 million, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke with $9.4 million and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, whose surprise-hit campaign raked in $7 million.

After that comes Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who raised $6 million, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar with $5.2 million and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker who raised $5 million. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand raised $3 million, former Obama housing secretary Julian Castro took in $1.1 million and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee raised $2.2 million.