Bristow Marchant

The State

Even as the presidential election has heated up, Donald Trump continues to trail Hillary Clinton in South Carolina fundraising.

However, the New York businessman has increased his Palmetto State donations since he clinched the Republican nomination.

Clinton has raised $1,557,605 in South Carolina this year. Trump has raised just $758,998 in the heavily Republican Palmetto State, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.

The most recent numbers available through the FEC show contributions through the end of August.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s short-lived GOP presidential campaign, which received its last South Carolina receipt in December 2015, sopped up many S.C. donations this election cycle.

Graham raised more money in his home state than Trump, finishing with $1,447,912, almost $700,000 more than the GOP nominee.

Still, compared to where Trump was three months earlier, the latest figures are a big improvement. Since becoming the GOP nominee, Trump has raised more than 10 times the amount he had raised in the state as of the end of May, when he only had $70,294.

Clinton has added about $500,000 to her total take from the Palmetto State in that period.

The latest numbers also show a jump in Trump’s largest contributions.

Trump has received 38 S.C. contributions of $2,700, the maximum allowed for the general election, up from just six as of May.

In contrast, 181 S.C. donors gave the maximum amount to Clinton.

There also is a distinct regional breakdown in South Carolinians’ giving patterns.

The Lowcountry contributed $544,996 to Clinton – up from $400,544 last May – while the Midlands gave $281,207 and the Upstate $213,912.

For Trump, the Upstate takes the lead in giving at $161,261, while the Lowcountry gave $138,585 and the Midlands gave only $35,867.

More details on both candidates’ contributors can be found on the FEC’s website.

South Carolina Giving

There is a distinct regional breakdown in South Carolinians’ giving patterns this presidential season:

Lowcountry

Clinton: $544,996

Trump: $138,585

Midlands

Clinton: $281,207

Trump: $35,867

Upstate

Clinton: $213,912

Trump: $161,261

SOURCE: FEC, as of end of August