http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/donald-trump-money-republicans-224607 Trump's puny war chest rattles GOP
'I have a state Senate client that has more in the bank,' said one Republican operative.
By Daniel Strauss
06/21/16 06:21 PM EDT
Updated 06/21/16 07:10 PM EDT
They knew it was going to be bad, but not this bad.
Donald Trump's newly released fundraising figures proved so anemic that Republican operatives are still shaking their heads and rubbing their eyes to make sure they read the numbers correctly.
The presumptive Republican nominee — who frequently boasts about his vast personal fortune — reported a paltry $1.3 million cash on hand Monday evening, a total not even in the same ballpark as Hillary Clinton’s $42.5 million.
"It's low for a Senate race, much less a presidential race," said Republican pollster Whit Ayres, who formerly worked for Sen. Marco Rubio.
"I have a state Senate client that has more in the bank," said another GOP operative formerly aligned with Rubio’s campaign. The number was "almost so low that it's not even comprehendable."
After enduring an evening of Twitter mockery over his lack of cash, Trump on Tuesday moved to remedy his situation by sending out the campaign’s first fundraising email — with an all-caps subject line reading "THE FIRST ONE."
Republicans already worry it may be too little, too late.
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