Hillary Clinton's $42mn campaign funds dominates Donald Trump's $1.3mn

Clinton's organizational strength too puts her at an advantage as her staff of some 700 people dwarfs Trump's skeleton staff of around 70

Donald Trump vs Hillary Clinton. Photos: Wikipedia
Donald Trump vs Hillary Clinton. Photos: Wikipedia
AFPPTI Washington
Last Updated : Jun 21 2016 | 4:10 PM IST
Donald Trump will embark on the US presidential campaign with a war chest tens of millions of dollars smaller than that of his well-organized rival Hillary Clinton, financial documents show.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has a mere $1.3 million, according to reports filed last night with the Federal Election Commission.

That sum represents an unprecedented low in recent history for a major presidential campaign.

Also Read

Clinton's campaign -- backed by big donors -- had more than $42 million in the bank as of May 31, its report showed.

Her super PAC (political action committee), known as Priorities USA, has another $52 million, it was reported as saying.

The news came on the same day Trump dumped his controversial campaign manager as he tried to revitalize his White House bid after recent stumbles.

He has taken a hit in the national polls and prompted outrage with comments about Muslims in the wake of the Orlando gay club massacre.

However yesterday's reports reinforce perceptions that his campaign lags woefully behind Clinton's, which is planning to spend more than$100 million on a television advertising blitz ahead of the November election.

Last week Clinton launched a media blitz of ads attacking Trump in eight key states -- Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.

Trump -- who has alienated many traditional Republican big donors and had to lend his own campaign $2 million last month -- is reported to have aired no ads since he clinched the Republican nomination last month.

The financial gap mirrors the organizational one. Clinton's staff of some 700 people dwarfs Trump's skeleton staff of around 70, putting him at a huge disadvantage in the swing states needed to win the election.

Assembling operations on the ground takes time. But Trump's campaign, which has prided itself on its lean organization, is planning to outsource it to the Republican party -- a task it normally does not perform.

The party yesterday reported raising only $13 million during May, about a third of the money it raised in May 2012 when Mitt Romney was the nominee.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 21 2016 | 3:32 PM IST

Next Story