US Elections 2016

Clinton campaign raises whopping $194m in August

More than 30 private fund-raising events were held, many hosted by celebrities

The Clinton team says the funds raised last month would go towards organising and mobilising voters across the country.
The Clinton team says the funds raised last month would go towards organising and mobilising voters across the country. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

WASHINGTON • Mrs Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign raised an eye-popping US$143 million (S$194 million) last month for her candidacy and the Democratic Party, the best showing of her campaign so far, her team said.

The haul allows Mrs Clinton's team to begin September - and the election's home stretch - with more than US$68 million on hand.

Of the US$143 million raised last month, US$62 million was raised for Mrs Clinton's campaign.

"Thanks to the 2.3 million people who have contributed to our campaign, we are heading into the final two months of the race with the resources we need to organise and mobilise millions of voters across the country," campaign manager Robby Mook said in a statement.

"These resources will help us to register and turn out millions of voters to elect progressive candidates across the country."

By comparison, Mr Barack Obama had raised a total of US$97 million in August 2012, including US$84 million for his campaign, according to the New York Times.

August campaign finance figures for Mr Donald Trump, Mrs Clinton's Republican rival, were not yet available, but the billionaire real estate tycoon has accelerated his fund-raising efforts in recent months.

Mrs Clinton throughout August participated in 37 private fund-raising events in 11 states plus the capital city Washington, according to a count by Agence France-Presse. Most were on the west coast, home to Hollywood celebrities and Silicon Valley executives, or in the traditional Democratic donor bastions of Massachusetts and New York.

The minimum contribution required to attend the events varied from US$500 to US$250,000, with higher contributions equating to more exclusive access.

For example, at an Aug 20 cocktail party at the home of former Universal Studios head Frank Biondi, on the posh island of Martha's Vineyard, about 700 people crowded under a large tent.

Also that evening, just 30 guests attended a nearby dinner hosted by Lynn Forester de Rothschild. Admission: US$50,000.

In Los Angeles, it took a minimum of US$33,400 to be among the 100 lunch guests at the home of pop star Justin Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel, in the Hollywood hills.

Even more exclusive was the two-hour California dinner for 20 hosted by Mrs Laurene Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Each guest contributed at least US$200,000.

The legal limit for donations to a campaign during the presidential election is US$2,700 per person. Larger donations are distributed among the network of state parties.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 03, 2016, with the headline Clinton campaign raises whopping $194m in August. Subscribe