President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign announced Thursday that it raised $46 million during the final three months of 2019 and had nearly $103 million on hand — a massive total at the start of the election year.
The quarterly total, which the campaign described as its largest yet, underscores how Trump has financially capitalized on impeachment. The reelection team has sent out scores of fundraising appeals and launched a merchandising effort aimed at stoking the grievances of Trump’s small donor base and presenting the president as a victim of congressional Democrats out to destroy him.
Trump’s fundraising narrowly outpaced Barack Obama, who brought in $42 million during the fourth quarter of 2011 as he was running for reelection.
“Democrats and the media have been in a sham impeachment frenzy and the president’s campaign only got bigger and stronger with our best fundraising quarter this cycle,” Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement.
The total does not include funds raised by the Republican National Committee. The RNC, which is working closely with the Trump campaign, has yet to announce its fourth quarter figures.
Trump is certain to have a vast financial advantage over whoever wins the Democratic nomination. The president’s quarterly figure tops Bernie Sanders, who brought in $34.5 million, and Pete Buttigieg, who raised nearly $25 million.
While chasing small dollar contributions, the president has also been holding exclusive fundraising events with major donors — a practice that could accelerate as the election year gets underway. Trump is slated to host a Jan. 17 fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago club, where, according to an event invitation. couples are being asked to give up to $250,000 apiece.