Donald Trump’s poor fundraising comes amid a widening deficit in the polls: the politico caucus GOP insiders alarmed by Trump's fundraising 'He is committing down-ballot murders,' said a Florida Republican.

Swing-state Republicans are unnerved and demoralized by Donald Trump’s cash-strapped presidential campaign.

Two-thirds of GOP members of The POLITICO Caucus — a panel of activists, strategists and operatives in 10 key battleground states — say they are alarmed by Trump’s poor fundraising after the presumptive Republican nominee reported this week spending $6.7 million in May and having only $1.3 million left in the bank. Nearly half, 46 percent, said they were “very alarmed.”


Trump’s poor fundraising comes amid a widening deficit in the polls: He’s now consistently behind Hillary Clinton in every national poll and most swing-state surveys. And more than three-quarters of GOP insiders in these 10 states think Clinton would win their states if the general election were held today.

And that poor performance, insiders say, could beget further financial woes.

“Trump will raise more money,” said a Colorado Republican, who, like all respondents, completed the survey anonymously. “But key donors and bundlers aren't likely to come around unless something drastically positive happens with polls over the summer.”

“The fundraising numbers simply highlight what most already know: This is not a serious candidate,” added a New Hampshire Republican. “He is not a serious thinker. He does not have a serious campaign operation. He does not have a serious policy plan. And he is very clearly not a serious fundraiser.”

A large number of GOP insiders who were alarmed by Trump’s anemic fundraising expressed concern that, if the party’s standard-bearer faces a financial shortfall at the top of the ticket, that could harm Republicans running for lower offices down the ticket.

“It will be difficult for Republicans running for Congress, U.S. Senate and even state and local races without a strong, well-funded, get-out-the-vote effort,” said one Colorado Republican. “As our party's nominee, it's Trump's responsibility to help fund the GOTV programs that will help the entire ticket.”

“We could be looking at a 6- or 7-to-1 money advantage for the Democrats by the time of the general election,” added a Nevada Republican. “That will make a huge difference on things like ground game, voter registration and turnout.”

A Florida Republican put it more starkly: “He is committing down-ballot murders.”

For the Republicans who are less concerned, Trump’s past ability to self-fund — through May 31, Trump has spent nearly $50 million of his own money — offers some comfort.

“Trump still has the capacity to self-fund, and the fact is, he's worked miracles in getting news media to highlight him,” said a Colorado Republican.

Added a New Hampshire Republican: “He can have more cash on hand overnight!”

And others pointed to Trump’s successes despite being outspent at times by his GOP primary rivals.

“I would be concerned if this was a typical campaign cycle,” said an Ohio Republican. “However, this year is far from typical. Trump still seems to rule the airwaves without spending a dime.”

And Trump does have a small share of true believers. Said one Florida Republican: “Trump doesn't need money to conquer the American hearts, who have been waiting for someone like him.”

But more broadly, Republicans are overwhelmingly pessimistic. In a benchmark question asked each week, 76 percent of GOP insiders said if the election were held today, Clinton would defeat Trump in their states.

Some of their more revealing comments:

A Colorado Republican: “While I still think Trump stands a chance of winning Colorado because of all the disgruntled [Bernie] Sanders people disillusioned with Hillary, unless he starts becoming more presidential, Republicans in Colorado won't want to turn out for him and it may go for Hillary.”

A Florida Republican: “[Clinton is] pulling away with every tweet.”

An Iowa Republican: “Donald Trump hasn't been here since Caucus night.”

Nevada: “She is spending lots of money on paid media and paid staff.”

New Hampshire: “Clinton has money, organization and policy chops; Trump has Twitter.”

North Carolina: “She has a campaign, and Mr. Trump does not.”

Ohio: “It's now dead even, but, given that Hillary started organizing here earlier, I am giving the edge to her.”

Pennsylvania: “Trump continues to implode in the vote-rich Philadelphia suburbs — where he already didn't do well in the primary.”

Virginia: “Virginia continues to be a very poor fit for Donald Trump.”

Wisconsin: “Trump hasn't done a thing. No outreach. No presence at the state GOP convention. Gov. Scott Walker has suggested that delegates vote their conscience. Trump has hired a staffer in Wisconsin. Nobody knows him. Question: Who in politics thinks that a ground game, voter ID and turnout just happens? Answer: Donald Trump.”

This general attitude had some GOP Trump skeptics who answered “not at all alarmed” to do so tongue-in-cheek.

“Everyone who is freaking out is not sophisticated enough to understand that Trump is masterfully playing out The Strategery of Misunderestimation!” joked one North Carolina Republican. “By having less money than any Republican candidate since Abraham Lincoln lived in a three-wall log cabin, Trump has gotten the Clinton camp completely overconfident. Well done, Sir!”

A New Hampshire Republican explain why he was not alarmed: “Because it was obvious from the start that he was a charlatan and a fraud with no interest in fundraising and no desire or ability to actually fund a general election campaign.”

These are the members of The POLITICO Caucus, not all of whom participated in this survey:

Colorado: Ryan Call, Laura Carno, Matt Chandler, Will Coyne, Adam Eichberg, Mark Ferrandino, Cole Finegan, Michael Fortney, Andrew Freedman, Ted Harvey, Craig Hughes, Owen Loftus, Pete Maysmith, Frank McNulty, Karen Middleton, Christopher Murray, BJ Nikkel, Josh Penry, Rick Ridder, Alan Salazar, Janice Sinden, Pat Steadman, Pat Waak, Steve Welchert, Taylor West, Roxane White, Rob Witwer

Florida: Fernand Amandi, Scott Arceneaux, JP Austin, Tim Baker, Dennis K. Baxley, Slater Bayliss, Dave Beattie, Wayne Bertsch, Ron Book, Pamela Burch Fort, Jose Calderon, Kevin Cate, Kelly Cohen, Gus Corbella, Brian Crowley, Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder, Justin Day, Judith Diaz, Nelson Diaz, John Dowless, Ryan Duffy, Jessica Ehrlich, Joe Falk, Alia Faraj-Johnson, Mark Ferrulo, Damien Filer, Marty Fiorentino, Rich Heffley, Nick Iarossi, David Johnson, Eric Johnson, Marian Johnson, Eric Jotkoff, Chris Korge, Jackie Lee, Susan MacManus, Beth Matuga, Fred Menachem, Jon Mills, Joe Mobley, Ben Pollara, Andrea Reilly, Steve Schale, April Schiff, Max Steele, Roger Stone, Richard Swann, Kevin Sweeny, Christian Ulvert, Steve Vancore, Ashley Walker, Andrew Weinstein, Andrew Wiggins, Ryan Wiggins, Rick Wilson

Iowa: Tim Albrecht, Brad Anderson, Rob Barron, Jeff Boeyink, Bonnie Campbell, Dave Caris, Sam Clovis, Jerry Crawford, Sara Craig, John Davis, Steve Deace, John Deeth, Derek Eadon, Ed Failor Jr., Karen Fesler, David Fischer, Ben Foecke, Doug Gross, Steve Grubbs, Tim Hagle, Bob Haus, Joe Henry, Drew Ivers, Jill June, Lori Jungling, Jeff Kaufmann, Brian Kennedy, Jake Ketzner, David Kochel, Chris Larimer, Chuck Larson, Jill Latham, Jeff Link, Dave Loebsack, Mark Lucas, Liz Mathis, Jan Michelson, Chad Olsen, David Oman, Matt Paul, Marlys Popma, Troy Price, Christopher Rants, Kim Reem, Craig Robinson, Sam Roecker, David Roederer, Nick Ryan, Tamara Scott, Joni Scotter, Karen Slifka, John Smith, AJ Spiker, Norm Sterzenbach, John Stineman, Matt Strawn, Charlie Szold, Phil Valenziano, Jessica Vanden Berg, Nate Willems, Eric Woolson, Grant Young

Nevada: Mac Abrams, Greg Bailor, Barbara Buckley, Yvanna Cancela, Bob Cavazos, Linda Cavazos, Jim DeGraffenreid, Andrew Diss, Peter Ernaut, Ryan Erwin, Chip Evans, Jay Gerstema, Oscar Goodman, Ryan Hamilton, Dan Hart, Pat Hickey, Zach Hudson, Jeremy Hughes, Megan Jones, Lindsey Jydstrup, Adam Khan, Peter Koltak, Roberta Lange, Sam Liberman, Laura Martin, Michael McDonald, Chuck Muth, Erven Nelson, Kristen Orthman, Neal Patel, Nick Phillips, Jon Ralston, Andres Ramires, Emmy Ruiz, Scott Scheid, Mike Slanker, James Smack, Paul Smith, Jack St. Martin, Mari St. Martin, Daniel Stewart, Brendan Summers, Riley Sutton, Robert Uithoven, Michelle White, Ed Williams, Heidi Wixom

New Hampshire: Charlie Arlinghaus, Arnie Arnesen, Patrick Arnold, Rich Ashooh, Dean Barker, Juliana Bergeron, D.J. Bettencourt, Michael Biundo, Ray Buckley, Peter Burling, Jamie Burnett, Debby Butler, Dave Carney, Jackie Cilley, Catherine Corkery, Corriveau, Fergus Cullen, Lou D’Allesandro, James Demers, Mike Dennehy, Sean Downey, Steve Duprey, JoAnn Fenton, Jennifer Frizzell, Martha Fuller Clark, Amanda Grady Sexton, Jack Heath, Gary Hirshberg, Jennifer Horn, Peter Kavanaugh, Joe Keefe, Rich Killion, Harrell Kirstein, Sylvia Larsen, Joel Maiola, Kate Malloy Corriveau, Maureen Manning, Steve Marchand, Tory Mazzola, Jim Merrill, Jayne Millerick, Claira Monier, Greg Moore, Matt Mowers, Terie Norelli, Chris Pappas, Liz Purdy, Tom Rath, Colin Reed, Jim Rubens, Andy Sanborn, Dante Scala, William Shaheen, Stefany Shaheen, Carol Shea-Porter, Terry Shumaker, Andy Smith, Craig Stevens, Kathy Sullivan, Chris Sununu, James Sununu, Jay Surdukowski, Donna Sytek, Kari Thurman, Colin Van Ostern, Deb Vanderbeek, Mike Vlacich, Ryan Williams

North Carolina: Don Davis, Francis X. De Luca, Anita Earls, Jonathan Felts, Tami L. Fitzgerald, Dylan Frick, Taylor Griffin, Robin Hayes, Morgan Jackson, Patsy Keever, Theresa Kostrzewa, Michael Luethy, Ray Martin, Thomas Mills, Melissa L. Reed, Chris Sgro, Paul Shumaker, Dee Stewart, Brad Thompson, Bruce Thompson, Charlie Wallin, Doug Wilson

Ohio: Jerry Austin, Greg Beswick, Matt Borges, Erica Bruton, Tim Burke, Janet Carson, Jai Chabria, Martha Clark, Bob Clegg, Damareo Cooper, Jo Ann Davidson, Michael Dawson, Bill DeMora, Cindy Demse, Kathy Dicristofaro, Katie Eagan, Michael Gonidakis, Wes Goodman, Joe Hallett, Ian James, Melissa Klide Hedden, David Leland, Nick Martin, Rhine McLin, David Pepper, Molly Shack, Mark R. Weaver

Pennsylvania: Chris Borick, Larry Ceisler, Valentino DiGiorgio, Jason Ercole, Dan Fee, Charlie Gerow, Marcel Groen, Leslie Gromis Baker, Mark Harris, Nan McLaughlin, Aubrey Montgomery, Christopher Nicholas, Nachama Soloveichik, David Sosar, Todd Stephens, Doc Sweitzer, David Thornburgh, Ray Zaborney

Virginia: Ray Allen, Sandra Brandt, Marc K. Broklawski, Patsy Brown, Janet Carver, John Cosgrove, Brian Coy, Doris Crouse-Mays, Tom Davis, Julie Dime, Abbi Easter, Mike Farris, John Findlay, Joe Fitzgerald, Sean Harrison, Margo Horner, Robert Hurt, Gaylene Kanoyton, Chris LaCivita, Sue Langley, Frank Leone, Robert G. Marshall, Tucker Martin, Ed Matricardi, Susan J. Rowland, Peter Snyder, Susan Swecker, Jo Thoburn

Wisconsin: Meg Andrietsch, Mary Arnold, Kevin Barthel, Mike Basford, Rebecca Bonesteel, Barry Burden, Terri Burl, Jim Camery, Patrick Guarasci, Robert Hansen, Gary Hawley, Marian Krumberger, Emily Nehring, Jason Rae, Brandon Scholz, John Zapfel

Kristen Hayford contributed to this report.