WAR CHESTS: Beto Beats Bernie, All Other Democrats in First 24 Hours of Fundraising

Beto Raises 6 1 Million Bernie

Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke is winning the fundraising contest after raising $6.1 million in the first 24 hours of his campaign.

According to a statement released by his campaign, O’Rourke raised $6.1 million in the first 24 hours of his campaign, smashing all other Democrats’ fundraising efforts.

Local media reports O’Rourke said it represents Americans coming “together to prove that it is possible to run a true grassroots campaign for president — a campaign by all of us for all of us that answers not to the PACs, corporations and special interests but to the people.”

O’Rourke exceeded the high water mark achieved by Vermont Senator and Democrat presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is the only candidate to come close to O’Rourke’s fundraising feat, having raised $5.9 million in the first 24 hours of his campaign.

Big League Politics reported at the time that Sanders had raised more during the crucial 24 hour period than any other Democrat candidate by a factor of millions. He is now joined by O’Rourke in raising more than virtually every other Democrat combined.

Big League Politics reported at the time:

Coming in second place is Sen. Kamala Harris, who raised $1.5 million in the first 24 hours of her campaign. In third place is Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who said she raised $1 million in the first 48 hours of her campaign.

Candidates scoring below Harris and Klobuchar in the fundraising challenge did not raise even $1 million in their first 24 hours, and some have not raised such a comparatively paltry sum since starting their campaigns.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, for example, raised a mere $299,000 in the first 24 hours of her campaign, and while Julian Castro did not announce a 24 hour fundraising number, he raised only $220,000 in the first two weeks of his campaign.

Surprisingly, Venture For America founder Andrew Yang, who promises to provide Americans with a “universal basic income” should he be elected, also beat the better recognized Warren and Castro, raising over $350,000 since the start of his campaign.

While O’Rourke eked out the first place by at least $200,000, he and Sanders are clearly in a league of their own when it comes to fundraising efforts.

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