Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Trump Outpaces Individual Democrats in Fundraising

Agence France-Presse

   WASHINGTON - Donald Trump's re-election team on Thursdaysaidhe was
   sittingatop alargecampaign war chest, underlining the scale of the
   challenge facing the U.S.president's Democratic rivals at the start of
   an election year.
   With the departure ofJulian Castroon Thursday, 14candidatesarestill in
   the running to take on Trump andarecompeting for much-needed donations
   that keep a campaign's ground game and advertising operations going.
   In the fourth quarter of 2019, even as Trump wasbeing investigated and
   ultimately impeachedby the House of Representatives, heraised$46
   million.It was his best fundraising period in a year that brought in
   $143 million for his re-election efforts, the campaign announced.
   And while Democrats are now raising funds to compete against one
   another ahead of the general election in November, Trump has the luxury
   of stockpiling funds until his opponent is selected.

   'Unstoppable'
   Trump's campaign now has $102.7 million in cash on hand."The
   president's war chest and grassroots army make his re-election campaign
   an unstoppable juggernaut," campaign manager BradParscalesaid in a
   statement.

   The president faces an upcoming trial in theSenate, wheremembers of his
   Republican Party holda majority ofseats.

   Trump himself argued that the impeachment drama, while embarrassing for
   his legacy, has led to a flood of donations.He retweeted a report that
   describedhis campaign raising $10 million in the two days following
   theHouseimpeachment vote.

.