Bernie Sanders reports big fundraising haul in February, setting him up for Super Tuesday
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Bernie Sanders continues to raise money from small donors at a dizzying clip heading into the key Super Tuesday primaries in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Even on one of the most disappointing days of his campaign this cycle, when Sanders finished far behind former Vice President Joe Biden in South Carolina’s primary Saturday, he broke a personal fundraising record. The campaign received $4.5 million that day, more than any other day since the Vermont senator launched his 2020 bid.
Sanders brought in $46 million in February, according to figures provided by the campaign. It came from 2.2 million donations. The campaign reported that 350,000 people who gave had not previously contributed to the Vermonter’s 2020 bid.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced her campaign received $29 million last month, with an average contribution of $31. The progressive had a poorer showing in South Carolina than Sanders but hoped for gains in upcoming delegate-rich states. Donations surged after her debate performance in Nevada, and more than 250,000 new donors gave in February, the campaign said in a memo.
“Our grassroots campaign is built to compete in every state and territory and ultimately prevail at the national convention in Milwaukee,†campaign manager Roger Lau said.
Biden’s campaign took in less than those of either of the progressive candidates. The former vice president told CNN on Sunday that he’d raised about $17 million in February. But he added that the campaign took in $5 million on Saturday alone.
Sanders’ big cash haul is a reminder that the senator remains well-equipped to continue amassing delegates when California and 13 other states vote on Tuesday.
California’s primary election is March 3, 2020. Here’s what you need to know about the presidential candidates and voting on Super Tuesday.
Sanders is leading in several of those states, including California, where polls say he is far ahead of his rivals. Although Biden’s huge win in South Carolina positions him well to compete, his war chest is dwarfed by that of Sanders and billionaire Michael R. Bloomberg, the former New York mayor who has already spent half a billion dollars of his own money on his campaign.
“The senator’s multi-generational, multiracial working-class coalition keeps fueling his campaign for transformational change a few bucks at a time,†Sanders’ campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, said. “We’re especially proud that of the more than 2 million donations we received this month, over 1.4 million were from voters in states that vote on Super Tuesday.â€
More than 1.9 million people have given to the Sanders campaign so far, according to the campaign, and the average contribution remains $19.
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