Trump’s super PAC lags behind Dem rival heading into 2020
January 31, 2020
The Republican super PAC formed to help President Donald Trump win reelection raised less money in 2019 than its Democratic counterpart, a sign big Democratic donors are readying a cash onslaught to fight Trump.
Priorities USA, which will be the main outside spender backing the Democratic nominee for president, raised $58.5 million in 2019, the group announced on Friday — $8 million more than the $50.4 million more than America First, the group backing Trump.
The millions raised by both groups, more than a year before Election Day, foreshadow a costly election ahead. And Trump and his allies are starting 2019 at an unusual cash disadvantage: Usually, a super PAC tied to the president would raise millions more than its rival, because donors and corporate interests itching to gain power in Washington want to contribute. A super PAC representing the party out of power, especially one without a clear nominee, usually has no such luck.
But in a Friday memo, Priorities USA Chairman Guy Cecil boasted that his group has increased its fundraising goal for the 2020 cycle by $50 million, to $150 million total, and has already placed a total of $70 million in ad reservations to run from now to July. The group has also been outspending Trump’s campaign on digital advertising in four battleground swing states that it is targeting with ads.
“Priorities is well-positioned to continue taking a leading role in the general election campaign against Donald Trump until a Democratic nominee for president has been selected,” Cecil said.
Both Priorities USA and America First have dual arms: a super PAC, which discloses donors, and a 501(c)(4) political nonprofit, which does not have to disclose donors. The fundraising totals announced Friday include for both arms of the organizations.
America First Action’s biggest donor during the last six months of 2019 was its chair, former Trump Cabinet official Linda McMahon, who gave $1.74 million, according to America First.
Ultimate Fighting Champion mogul Dana White donated $1 million to the group. And Warren Stephens, an Arkansas-based financier, gave $500,000, according to information released by America First. During the 2016 election, Stephens donated millions of dollars to a pair of super PACs that tried to prevent Trump from winning the nomination, though he has more recently become supportive of the president. Last year, Stephens met privately with Vice President Mike Pence.
America First’s deficit to its Democratic counterpart stands in contrast to Trump’s campaign, which has built up a massive stockpile of money heading into the general election. The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee raised a combined $463 million in 2019 and had nearly $200 million on hand to start the election year. The RNC ended November with more than seven times the cash on hand of its Democratic counterpart.
But with Priorities USA raking in big checks, some senior Republicans would like to see the pro-Trump super PAC raising more. Last year, they brought in McMahon, the former head of the Small Business Administration and a longtime GOP donor. McMahon, party officials hope, will be able to use her connections in the Republican fundraising world to boost the super PAC’s performance. Since joining, she has become one of the group’s biggest donors.
Still unclear is how much Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson contributes to the group — or when, or whether he will at all. Adelson is typically one of the Republican Party’s largest donors and could fill the super PAC’s coffers. But Adelson often gives later on in an election cycle, meaning a contribution could be months away.
Source: https://www.politico.com/
