GETTY Donald Trump continues to dominate political debate in the United States

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

While Mrs Clinton wrote off £19million in the past quarter to bolster her bid for the White House, the billionaire property tycoon is estimated to have invested just £3million. Since Trump’s controversial demand for Muslims to be temporarily banned from entering the US following an Islamic Stateinspired mass shooting in San Bernardino, donations have been pouring in to his campaign coffers. Experts estimate more than 100,000 supporters have given donations averaging £40 to his campaign, even though he is largely self financing his presidential ambitions. Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric about Mexicans and Muslims has caused headlines around the world. It saw some Republicans try to force him to stand as a conservative independent, even though it could split the vote and pave the way for a Clinton victory.

Hollywood actor Harrison Ford, 73, even joined in the attacks on Saturday, saying Trump, who refers to himself as “The Donald”, was unable to separate fact from fiction. Trump had praised the 1997 film Air Force One in which Ford, playing the president, defeats terrorists. In a withering video Ford said: “Donald, it was a movie… just a movie. It’s not like that in real life. But then, how would you know?” However, Trump’s position in the party has been strengthened by support from former Republican nominee for vice-president Sarah Palin, who posted on Facebook about his proposed Muslim ban: “If it saves innocent lives, profile away.” A poll carried out before Trump’s Muslim comments found 55 per cent of Americans viewed him as a possible presidential winner in next year’s elections, while 78 per cent thought Clinton could win if she was nominated. Latest polls put Trump at 30 per cent of the vote to win the Republican candidacy, with his nearest party rival Ted Cruz trailing on 15 per cent.

GETTY Trump is spending a fraction of his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton as he continues to dominate

GETTY Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric about Mexicans and Muslims has caused headlines around the world

I think he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to the Democratic Party Bill Press, a former chairman of the Democratic Party in California

Jeb Bush, who has so far spent about £35million, remains in single digits. Last week in Iowa, where a key caucus will be held in February, Trump slammed Cruz in typically dismissive fashion over his rival’s stance on the renewable fuel ethanol. His aggressive stance against rivals in his own party is worrying Republican chiefs who fear “Trump trouncings” are making him and other party figures look ridiculous. Bill Press, a former chairman of the Democratic Party in California, said: “I think he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to the Democratic Party.” The last time an independent ran in 1992 it split the vote and led to Bill Clinton becoming president. On Friday Trump sharp ened his tongue against close friend Mrs Clinton, accusing her of being responsible for “maybe millions” of Syrians and Iraqis fleeing their homes. As he spoke a protester, Jamila Manmami, was thrown to the ground by security guards after saying Trump’s remarks about Muslims were creating “violence in the community”. On Friday night a mosque in southern California was firebombed in what police said was a possible hate crime. A man was later arrested. Anti-Trump protests erupted over the weekend as he held a campaign rally in Aiken, South Carolina.

GETTY Experts estimate more than 100,000 supporters have given donations averaging £40 to his campaign