In total the re-election effort has raised $308m so far this year, Trump’s campaign said, outmatching his Democratic rivals

This article is more than 11 months old

This article is more than 11 months old

Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee raised $125m in the third quarter of 2019, his campaign announced, an amount it credited, at least in part, to the looming threat of impeachment.

In total the re-election effort has raised $308m so far this year, Trump’s campaign said, and has over $156m in the bank.

The haul comfortably outmatches Trump’s Democratic rivals, some of whom released their own fundraising totals on Tuesday.

However, Trump’s good news comes against a backdrop of growing support for impeachment. On Wednesday a new poll showed that 46% of voters believe Congress should begin impeachment proceedings, versus 43% who are opposed.

Still, the fundraising numbers will be a welcome boost for a beleaguered president.

“President Trump has built a juggernaut of a campaign, raising record amounts of money at a record pace,” said Brad Parscale, Trump’s campaign manager.

In the same week that the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, announced the impeachment inquiry, Parscale said the campaign had received “50,000” new donations over two days.

Parscale said the new donors showed that Trump’s supporters “are showing up big league”.

Brad Parscale (@parscale) Wow! 50,000 new donors in two days... and growing. @realDonaldTrump supporters are showing up big league.

Announcing the figures, Parscale credited the RNC chair, Ronna McDaniel, for her efforts.

“With our great partnership with the RNC and Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, we will re-elect the president and win back the House of Representatives.”

Trump and the RNC’s year-so-far total of $308m is more than double the amount Barack Obama had raised at the same point in 2011 – when he was running for a second term.

Obama raised about $70m in the third quarter of 2011.

McDaniel credited Democratic attacks on Trump for motivating supporters to donate in record numbers.

“We are investing millions on the airwaves and on the ground to hold House Democrats accountable, highlight their obstruction, and take back the House and re-elect President Trump in 2020,” she said.

The haul outmatches Trump’s Democratic rivals, some of whom released their own fundraising totals on Tuesday.

Bernie Sanders, who is taking a break from campaigning following heart surgery, brought in $25.3m in the third quarter, and Pete Buttigieg raised $19.1m. Sanders also announced that his campaign would begin running a TV advert in Iowa.

Further down the chain, Kamala Harris raised $11.6m, while Cory Booker – who had said he would quit the race if he failed to raise $1.7m in September – brought in $6m over the three-month period.

Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, who are leading the polls, are yet to release their figures. Campaigns have to share their fundraising totals by 15 October.

Sanders said he had received 1.4m donations in the third quarter, at an average of $18 per donation. Buttigieg’s $19.1m haul is down from the $24.9m he raised in the second quarter, when he led the field in fundraising.

While the threat of impeachment might be buoying Trump supporters, recent polls have shown less positive signs for the president.

A Politico/Morning Consult poll published on Wednesday found growing support for Trump to be impeached. Among voters 46% support impeachment, with 43% opposed and 11% having no opinion. The survey also found that 56% of voters disapprove of Trump’s job performance.

Earlier in the week a CNN poll found 47% support for impeachment, up from 41% in May. The increase mostly came from independents and Republicans.

The fundraising announcement comes as the pro-Trump efforts launched their first major advertising campaign of the cycle. Trump’s team aims to devote $1bn to his re-election.

Last week, as House Democrats launched their impeachment effort, the Trump campaign announced it would spend $8m to air an ad attacking Democrats for trying to “steal” the 2020 campaign. The RNC said it would spend $2m attacking Democrats for their support of impeachment.