RNC posts disappointing Sept. fundraising total

by Jonathan Swan - 10/14/16 12:43 PM ET

The Republican National Committee (RNC) raised $39.4 million in September, it announced Friday, a disappointing haul compared to previous presidential election years.

The RNC says it’s seeing stronger-than-usual small-dollar fundraising due to enthusiasm for presidential nominee Donald Trump. But it’s falling short of its 2008 and 2012 performances in several important metrics.

{mosads}In September 2012, the RNC raised $48.4 million and finished the month with $82.6 million cash on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission. And in September 2008, the RNC raised $67.2 million and finished the month with $77.5 million in the bank.

So far in the 2016 cycle, the RNC says it has raised $262.3 million, which again lags behind previous presidential election years. At the same point in the 2008 cycle, the party had raised $309.8 million, and at the same stage in 2012, it had brought in $331.2 million.

The party’s current cash on hand — $56.6 million — also lags behind the previous two presidential campaign cycles.

The RNC has shifted its focus this year, investing in a massive nationwide organizational effort instead of TV advertising, which it sees as an inefficient use of resources. The Trump campaign has outsourced nearly all of its ground operations to the RNC.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said of the latest fundraising figures: “With our ground game fully funded, we will continue to raise and spend on additional resources that will put Donald Trump in the White House with Republican majorities in the House and Senate.”

“Our supporters are enthusiastic about Donald Trump,” Priebus added, “and as a result this was one of the best months in RNC history for small dollar fundraising.

The RNC says that with the encouragement of the Trump campaign, it has transferred $4.5 million to the committee that helps Senate Republicans and $1.85 million to the committee that helps House Republicans.

“The RNC has worked tirelessly since 2013 to build the best ground game in politics,” Priebus said, “and with thousands of staffers and volunteers in the field right now, the amount we’ve raised this month will continue to help deliver Republican victories at every level.”

Tags Donald Trump