Harris raises $404 million in August, surpassing Trump in fundraising race

Kamala Harris's presidential campaign, in conjunction with the Democratic Party, brought in a staggering $361 million in August, solidifying her financial advantage over her Republican competitor, Donald Trump, just two months ahead of Election Day.

According to her campaign, this significant fundraising push leaves Harris with $404 million in available funds as of the beginning of September, Caliber.Az reports citing Reuters.

In contrast, Trump’s campaign and the Republican Party announced on September 4 that they raised $130 million during August, with $295 million cash on hand by the end of the month.

Both campaigns are on track to spend more than $1 billion in total, shattering previous records. The substantial fundraising figures are detailed in reports filed with U.S. election regulators and are closely scrutinized as a key indicator of each candidate’s momentum going into the tightly contested November 5 election.

These reported totals do not account for contributions from external political action committees or other supportive groups. Nevertheless, the impressive sums reflect the intensity of the fundraising efforts on both sides as they ramp up voter outreach and advertising, particularly in critical swing states expected to determine the outcome of the election.

The first major test for Harris and Trump will be their upcoming televised debate on Tuesday. It will mark the first debate since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race and publicly endorsed Harris as his successor on July 21, a move that has further energized the Democratic base.

Harris's candidacy has injected fresh enthusiasm into the Democratic Party, sparking a surge in donations and support. Her campaign reports that of the 1.3 million new donors in August, the majority had not contributed during the 2020 presidential election. Furthermore, more than 60% of August donors were women, while nearly 20% were registered Republicans or independents.

Despite Harris's fundraising success, the race remains tight, with polling averages showing a dead heat in crucial battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia. The upcoming debate is expected to play a significant role in shaping the final weeks of the campaign and could be pivotal in swaying undecided voters.

Both campaigns are expected to pour substantial resources into these key states as the election approaches, with experts predicting an unprecedented level of spending aimed at mobilizing voters and securing critical electoral votes in the final stretch.