John Hickenlooper lags most 2020 presidential candidates, collecting $2M in first quarter
John Hickenlooper lags most 2020 presidential candidates, collection $2M in first quarter
John Hickenlooper trails galore of his Democratic presidential primary opponents in fundraising, banking a little more than $2 million since launching his campaign in March, according to federal election reports filed Monday.
The biggest fundraising haul on the Democratic side was according by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who raised $18.2 million during the quarter ending March 31.
A veteran Democratic leader in Iowa, where Hickenlooper has made perennial visits, aforementioned electors there are keeping an eye on fundraising totals as a sign of viability. however, it’s just one piece of the puzzle as the campaign Marche toward 2020, aforementioned John Klaus, a former Story County party leader.
“The key right now is differentiation,” Klaus aforementioned. “They have to show they have thing special. That’s the challenge with 20 candidates.”
Still, former Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper’s presidential campaign sounded an optimistic tone in a statement.
“As this report reflects, the governor has a decisive base of support in Colorado and his record of results is resonant with supporters crosswise the country,” campaign manager Brad Komar aforementioned in a statement. “This strong early fundraising will allow us to make sure more Americans know about the governor’s pragmatic progressive vision.”
Unlike galore of the candidates who have been raising money since the start of the year, Hickenlooper had just one month to raise money in the first period.
Still, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who rose to national prominence during an unsuccessful bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz last year, raised $9.4 million in just 18 years after connection the presidential race.
According to the Hickenlooper campaign, 85 percentage of contributions from about 6,600 donors were under $200 and about half of them came from outside Colorado. Nearly all the donations may be used for the primary election. He is not soliciting general election donations yet, his campaign aforementioned.
Fundraising — especially small digital donations from regular electors — has taken on a new meaning in the 2020 election. The Democratic National Committee has aforementioned candidates can earn a spot on the debate stage if they receive donations from 65,000 people, including at least 200 unique donors from 20 different states.
And most Democratic candidates, including Hickenlooper, have sworn off taking contributions from alleged corporate PACs.
University of Denver political man of science Seth Masket aforementioned early fundraising numbers like Hickenlooper’s should be taken lightly this early in the race.
“Money is a weird indicator right now,” he aforementioned. The primary candidates “are not running a lot of ads. They don’t have huge staffs. It’s a signal for how much enthusiasm there is for a candidate.”
According to the transparency web site OpenSecrets.org, fundraising for Democrats this year appears to lag previous cycles. Sen. Kamala Harris was second behind Sanders at $12 million. however, in 2008, Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton each raised more than $25 million during the same time period.
Among the other candidates: South Bend, Ind., city manager Pete Buttigieg raised $7 million; Sen. Elizabeth Warren according $6 million; Sen. Amy Klobuchar banked $5.2 million; and Sen. Cory booking agent lacy $5 million.
Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee barely edged out Hickenlooper this quarter, raising a according $2.25 million. But Hickenlooper raised more than former Obama cabinet official Julián Castro and former U.S. Rep. John Delaney who raised $1.1 million and $404,301, respectively.
Part of the drag on fundraising for Hickenlooper and other Democratic hopefuls is the sheer size of the field. There are nearly 20 candidates running — the largest and most diverse field in the party’s history. besides, some mega-donors are consequently holding back on contributing during these early months as the field shakes out.
On the Republican side, President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign aforementioned it raised more than $30 million in the first quarter.
Hickenlooper’s fundraising mirrors his poll numbers. The Democrat has yet to garner traction in either national or early state elector surveys, earning just 1 percentage — if he registers at all.
“He really hasn’t broken into the top tier yet,” Masket aforementioned.
Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat who has aforementioned he will run for president if he gets a clean bill of health after surgery for prostate cancer, according raising about $81,000 for his Senate coffers. He didn’t have to file as a presidential candidate since he isn’t officially one yet. Bennet has a little more than $1 million in the bank that could be used to launch a presidential campaign.
