Updated at 11:51 a.m. to include updated numbers from the campaign.
CLAREMONT, N.H. — Beto O'Rourke announced Wednesday that more than 128,000 donors contributed to his record-breaking first-day campaign haul of $6.1 million, an average of $48 per donation.
The former three-term El Paso congressman jumped into the presidential race last Thursday, and detractors had alleged that high-dollar donors rather than a grassroots outpouring may have padded his tally.
Sen. Bernie Sanders brought in $5.9 million during his first 24 hours last month from 223,047 donors, an average of $27.
Official fundraising tallies for them and their rivals for the 2020 Democratic nomination have not been filed. But these one-day tallies provide bragging rights and, in O'Rourke's case, put to rest doubts about whether he could harness the nationwide support he received for his Senate bid in Texas.
The Texan said he received 128,000 "unique donations," which could mean that some individuals donated multiple times.
Sanders is the only 2020 Democratic competitor who has come close to O'Rourke's torrid pace in the money chase. When O'Rourke eclipsed him, Sanders told his backers they should take comfort in the likelihood that he'd drawn support from more individuals.
NinjaChemist on March 20th, 2019 at 15:20 UTC »
I see Fox News is in full-swing counter attack mode against O'Rourke. The headline right now on foxnews.com:
Honestly, what is wrong with these people?
Sol5960 on March 20th, 2019 at 14:45 UTC »
I'm a solid Bernie supporter - however, as others have aptly remarked, this is a sign of continued support for Democrats past the midterms, and a wholly positive thing. If you can't see that, you're too deep in your foxhole and need to come back to the fold of rational thinking, full stop.
This primary NEEDS to be about supporting the candidate who speaks to you most, through their policies - and sharing and discussing the nuances of those policies. Yes, context and past records matter, but they aren't so important that you should stoop to setting the whole house on fire just because you don't like the drapes in Beto's bedroom.
If this all goes it's best way, we end the primary with very little acrimony, and a candidate who has taken cues from all the best policy stances in an effort to build the most resonant, forward-thinking campaign possible.
Then, with that enthusiasm, we win the election, intact and with a huge bolus of energy - a real mandate - to start fixing the litany of damage that's been done.
RidleyScotch on March 20th, 2019 at 14:17 UTC »
Nice, the enthusiasm and money is still present on the Democratic party even after the midterms.
This is only a good thing for all candidates.
A rising tide lifts all ships.