Hillary Clinton has raised $45 million in campaign contributions so far
The chairman of the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign says more than 90 percent of the donations were less than $100.
Hillary Clinton at a Jefferson Jackson event hosted by the Democratic Party of Virginia at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, on June 26, 2015.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP/File
Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Wednesday her campaign has raised more than $45 million during its first quarter.
Mrs. Clinton revealed the number on her Twitter page, adding that her campaign are still working on the numbers.
The figure was announced ahead of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings. Presidential candidates must file their financial disclosure forms with FEC by July 15.
The donor breakdown will not be available before the filing. But John David Podesta, the chairman of the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, wrote on his Twitter page that more than 90 percent of the donations were less than $100.
The post was retweeted by Clinton as well.
“I think the message is clearly there that every contributor is a voter,” Ira Leesfield, a Florida trial lawyer who hosted a fund-raiser for Mrs. Clinton late last month, told The New York Times. “They’re really emphasizing reaching out to a broad base. They see that the small contributors, and people who are not giving to PACs, are being treated very well.”
Just after the campaign announced the numbers, Clinton expressed her appreciation in a handwritten note posted on Twitter. “Thank you so much for being part of this campaign. I’m grateful for all you’ve done and excited for what comes next,” she wrote. “When the road ahead is tough, you need the best people by your side. That’s why I’m thankful for you."
The raised amount is a record for primary money raised in a candidate’s first quarter. Previously, President Obama, with $41.9 million raised for the first quarter of his re-election bid, held this record.
Unlike in 2008, so far Clinton’s campaign has decided to only raise money for the primary election to avoid the overspending and fiscal mismanagement that happened during her failed 2008 campaign.
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Clinton left the race with $23 million in campaign debt, with at least $11.4 million of her own money.
Hillary Clinton campaign's goal for the upcoming election is to raise $100 million by the end of 2015.
Clinton is the first 2016 presidential contender who publicly reported her fundraising numbers ahead of the upcoming FEC deadline.
As of now, 18 men and women – four Democrats and 14 Republicans – have officially announced they are candidates for the November 2016 presidential election.