Clinton Ends 2015 With A $55 Million Fundraising Haul

Matt Vespa | January 03, 2016 12:05 PM

Well, the former first lady surely had a good last quarter for 2015 concerning filling her war chest for the 2016 election. Hillary Clinton ushered in the New Year with a $55 million haul, easily meeting her $100 million goal for the year (via WaPo):

Hillary Clinton's campaign announced Friday that it raised $55 million in the final fundraising period of 2015, and $112 million in primary-election funds for the year. Clinton brought in $37 million in money specifically for use in the primary during the fourth quarter of 2015.

Clinton also raised $3 million for the general election. Her annual total is the most for any non-incumbent in a non-election year and roughly equal to what President Obama raised as a sitting president ahead of the 2012 election, the campaign said.

The totals are further evidence of the Democratic front-runner's fund-raising muscle, despite public fretting from her campaign that the numbers might slip or that challenger Sen. Bernie Sanders might out-raise her.

The campaign had set a 2015 goal of $100 million for use during the primary period. The campaign exceeded that, leaving about $38 million in the bank.

[…]

The campaign also said that more than 60 percent of donors for the year were women.

Like Bush, the publication noted, albeit towards the end of their coverage, that most of the fundraisers Clinton attends were geared towards people who could fork over the maximum $2,700 contribution for the primaries. Yet, the Clinton campaign also noted that 94 percent of their donations in the fourth quarter came from the $100 and under crowd. You know, people like us.

The war chest and fundraising from the Clinton Team are impressive, but not entirely shocking. What has become something of a surprise is the strong showing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has been receiving from Democrats. The self-described democratic socialist could win Iowa and New Hampshire, though his best chance is probably the latter, and his fundraising numbers have been solid as well. He’s also reportedly very frugal, so let’s see how strategic he spends his money as presidential politics becomes more serious this year.