Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton smiles during the Presidential Debate at Hofstra University on September 26, 2016 in Hempstead, New York.

Donald Trump's presidential campaign staff moved quickly on Saturday to capitalize on a leaked audio in which Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton characterized supporters of Bernie Sanders as living with their parents on the economic fringes.

In a recording of a February fundraiser first reported by the conservative-leaning Washington Free Beacon, Clinton was overheard telling supporters that Sanders supporters like "free" things like health care and education.

She also said some of them were "living in their parents' basement," and that "they feel they got their education and the jobs that are available to them are not at all what they envisioned for themselves," according to the audio. "And they don't see much of a future."

The GOP contender wasted little time seizing on the remarks, blasting out a fundraising appeal pointedly titled "Hillary mocked Bernie supporters"—just as the Clinton camp released new figures showing a big fundraising haul last month.

In a twist of irony, the real estate billionaire has cast himself as a champion of the working class, while repeatedly attacking his opponent as captive to wealthy elites. Vowing to match contributions up to triple the amount given, the email said that voters "can't let Crooked Hillary get away with attacking the great citizens of our country."

Trump tweet

Still, the Clinton campaign appeared to score a fundraising bonanza of their own. According to new data, the Clinton/Kaine ticket pulled in more than $154 million for Hillary for America and the national party in September.



Clinton's remarks — which ricocheted across political blogs and trended on social media all day Saturday — echoed Clinton's misstep a few weeks ago, when she classified "half" of Trump's supporters as being part of a "basket of deplorables."



A Clinton representative did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.