In a striking development ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has reported raising $361 million in August, a figure that nearly triples the $130 million raised by former President Donald Trump’s campaign. This fundraising success gives Harris a substantial financial edge as she heads into the final stretch of the race.
With a total of $404 million in cash on hand, the Harris campaign is well-positioned for the last 60 days leading up to the November 5 election. This impressive financial haul contrasts sharply with the Trump campaign’s $295 million in cash reserves. Harris’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, emphasised the importance of this funding, stating, “As we enter the final stretch of this election, we’re making sure every hard-earned dollar goes to winning over the voters who will decide this election.”
The significant disparity in fundraising reflects a broader trend of robust grassroots support for Harris. The campaign highlighted that most of the August contributions came from small donors, with 3 million donors contributing, including 1.3 million first-time donors. Notably, three-quarters of these new donors had not contributed in the last presidential election, underscoring a surge in grassroots enthusiasm.
In contrast, Trump’s campaign reported a notable 98 per cent of its August donations coming from contributions of less than $200. Senior advisor Brian Hughes stated, “These fundraising numbers from August are a reflection of that movement and will propel President Trump’s America First movement back to the White House.” Despite the lower total, Trump’s campaign continues to mobilise substantial support, and Hughes is confident that these funds will advance their efforts to address what they term as the “failures of Harris and Biden.”
The final stretch of the campaign has commenced with North Carolina becoming the first state to start mailing out 2024 ballots, with other states to follow. Early in-person voting will begin later this month in several key states, including Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Virginia, Maine, and Illinois.
The candidates are set to face off in their first debate on September 10 in Philadelphia, which will be a critical moment in shaping voter perceptions as the election approaches. Harris’s campaign is planning an extensive mobilisation effort, with more than 2,000 events and 20,000 volunteers focusing on Trump’s Project 2025—a document outlining his plans for a potential second term. Despite Trump’s attempts to distance himself from the document, Harris’s team plans to use it to highlight the former president’s policies and intentions.
Harris’s financial advantage and polling lead, with her surpassing Trump in both national polls and aggregate poll averages, suggest a strong position going into the final campaign period. The extensive resources at Harris’s disposal are expected to bolster her campaign’s reach and effectiveness, potentially swaying undecided voters and consolidating support ahead of the November election.