Vice President Kamala Harris has taken a significant lead in fundraising as the 2024 race for the White House enters its final stretch. According to recent federal filings, Harris raised nearly $190 million for her campaign in August, a substantial increase compared to the $44.5 million reported by former President Trump's team.
In terms of expenditures, the Harris campaign outspent the Trump campaign by a wide margin, with approximately $174 million spent on various activities, including advertising to increase Harris's visibility following her nomination as the Democratic candidate. In contrast, the Trump campaign reported $61 million in expenditures, primarily focused on media buys.
Despite the substantial spending by the Harris campaign, they still maintained a significant cash advantage heading into September, with $235 million cash-on-hand compared to Trump's $135 million, as per the FEC filings. This financial disparity underscores Harris's fundraising momentum since becoming the Democratic nominee.
Both campaigns utilize affiliated fundraising committees to bolster their financial resources, with the Harris campaign and its allies collectively raising $361 million in August, nearly triple the $130 million reported by the Trump campaign and its affiliated committees. Additionally, Harris's team highlighted a surge in donations following her debate with Trump, where she raised $47 million from nearly 600,000 donors within 24 hours.
When questioned about the fundraising gap, Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley acknowledged the Democrats' financial advantage but expressed confidence in the resources available to the Trump campaign. Whatley stated that despite the Democrats' significant funding, the Republican campaign has the necessary resources to effectively communicate their message to voters and remains optimistic about their prospects in the upcoming election.
