Democrats’ money is flying out the door as fast as it’s coming in. Super PACs are revving up their fundraising in a big way, including some already focused on the general election. And Donald Trump’s campaign is lying in wait.
Priorities USA, the main Democratic super PAC preparing to back the party’s nominee against Trump, took in $5 million from hedge fund magnate Donald Sussman in January — more than double the biggest check Sussman cut in 2019. The super PAC also raised $2 million from financier and philanthropist George Soros’ Democracy PAC, which didn’t give to any big Democratic PACs in 2019. And it raised $1 million from real estate broker George Marcus, who only donated big money to downballot causes in 2019.
Cash-strapped candidates are relying more and more on super PACs, which can raise unlimited money and spend it in places the candidates can’t afford. And VoteVets, which endorsed Buttigieg in December and has aired $2.1 million in ads backing him in New Hampshire and Nevada, is drawing in money from Buttigieg donors who previously didn’t give to the group. They include Buttigieg campaign finance chairwoman Swati Mylavarapu and her husband, Matt Rogers, who donated $100,000 combined in January.
The campaign now involves many, expensive states at once — and candidates can’t rely on county-by-county retail politics like they did in Iowa. Only a few campaigns are currently putting up a real fight across the country. The rest are hoping they’ll catch fire and build out a bigger campaign before time runs out.Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar. | Alex Wong/Getty Images
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