Fredreka Schouten

USA TODAY

Forget about the summer slowdown.

The rivals for the presidency and several super PACs raised big sums in August as donors began to focus in earnest on the fall campaign. The latest group to report a huge haul: Priorities USA Action, a super PAC boosting Democrat Hillary Clinton's presidential bid. Officials announced Thursday that they raised $21.65 million in August, their best monthly fundraising figure of the election.

The group now has raised $130.7 million for the entire election cycle, including $1 million raised jointly with EMILY's List, which works to elect women candidates. The group said donors have pledged another $29 million.

It ended August with $41.5 million still in the bank for upcoming spending. Priorities has attacked Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's temperament and fitness for office in a wave of TV and digital ads that began in June.

The New York Times first reported Priorities' August fundraising totals.

Super PACs can raise unlimited funds but cannot coordinate their advertising decisions with the candidates they support.

Clinton and aligned Democratic committees raised $143 million in August; Trump and his joint fundraising committees with the Republican Party raised $90 million.

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