Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) closed out 2019 with another major fundraising victory. His presidential campaign announced Thursday that it raised more than $34.5 million in the final three months of the year.
The money came in the form of 1.8 million individual contributions, the campaign said, averaging $18.53 apiece. Notably, nearly 300,000 people gave to Sanders’ campaign for the first time in the fourth quarter.
Since Sanders joined the 2020 race last February, he has raised $96 million and accepted 5 million donations. According to his campaign, 99.9 percent of his donors have given less than the maximum $2,800 allowed by law, suggesting that they could continue fueling his operation as early voting begins next month in Iowa and New Hampshire.
In a written statement, Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir said his boss was “proving each and every day that working class Americans are ready and willing to fully fund a campaign that stands up for them and takes on the biggest corporations and the wealthy.”
Because presidential candidates do not have to file official reports with the Federal Election Commission until later this month, it’s impossible to verify Sanders’ self-reported numbers or compare them to the rest of the field. The campaign did not immediately reveal how much money it spent during the final quarter of 2019, nor how much it had in the bank.
By early afternoon Thursday, only a smattering of Sanders’ Democratic rivals had reported their fundraising figures. Former mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., said he raised $24.7 million, while entrepreneur Andrew Yang collected $16.5 million. Republican President Donald Trump, meanwhile, took in $46 million.
Sanders’ fourth-quarter haul bests his third-quarter record of $25.3 million. It narrowly exceeds the $33 million he collected in the fourth quarter of 2015 — the equivalent period of the 2016 Democratic primary.
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BULL
Now he’s a millionaire has he shared his wealth with any of you??
Bernie has helped me out in a couple of situations DONNA when nobody else in the worthless federal government would!
“Bernie has helped me out in a couple of situations DONNA when nobody else in the worthless federal government would!”
Fair enough, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a hypocrite about all things money.
Donna-
It is difficult for one person to make much of an impact, even if they are a millionaire. For example, one million dollars divided among the people of Vermont would be about $1.59 each. That is why Bernie is devoting his resources towards changing the system as a whole in ways to make us all more financially secure.
Wow – the Know Your of Assumptions liked something someone else wrote! Then he gets his digs in.
Headed in the right direction, KYA!
FWIW I opened the mail in the campaign office today, and with checks dated in December, there’s already at least $6000 more in his total. That’s why there are no firm numbers yet for his campaign. Bernie has helped me several times, and the employees of Disney and Amazon as well. That’s also why he raises so much money. People trust him, and there aren’t many politicians you can say that about.
Here’s Bernie. He never earned anything to speak of in terms of a private sector paycheck. So he platforms on socialism and free stuff for all – not that it would ever fly…
The people who do and did work to make it in this country, in his world, would be taxed like crap to pay for his free stuff.
Meanwhile, his political career has made him a millionaire. To me, something fishy is going on with his deal.
He has 1.8 million people ponying up about 20 bucks each. Money they likely need, but they’re raptured about the railing against the rich and big business in hopes of free stuff.
Things that make me wonder…
Here’s to 4mervter:
Anyone who runs for office spends money on it – why single out Bernie as ripping anyone off? As far as his stuff costing you a lot, the taxes pay for health insurance, and then you don’t have to pay for health insurance anymore. It’s all in the taxes. You’d be saving. I am less than sure you’ll believe me, but there you go.
Mr Messing:
The very reason I commented on this article is because it was about Bernie’s fundraising. That’s I guess, why I “singled him out”.
It’s not just about free healthcare, it’s about all the “free” stuff he advocates. Let’s add free college to the discussion. Maybe there’s a bunch of Americans who don’t want the government to be running so much. In a capitalist society there are choices based on price and value. Not so much in a socialist world. Bernie’s world… My views of government are to protect us and maintain an infrastructure.
Then, there’s granting same benefits to people who are in the USA illegally. All of my friends who legally immigrated here agree that those coming here illegally should not receive any benefits. Bernie’s platform basically gives everyone free benefits. So here, the question of tax versus benefit seems moot. Why should taxpayers fund illegal immigration, let alone college education?!
I respect your beliefs. I’m trying to understand. Please try to understand my views.
Hi 4mervter, and thanks for your civility!
There is a lot of discussion about what’s socialism – how about the Post Office? Schools? Roads? I do think the public good is served by having the government run some things. I’d add healthcare to those things. I’d also rescind the giant tax breaks given to billionaires. Folks can make plenty of money, but the tax-rates from a few decades back kept everything running, and now, surprisingly, things aren’t running so well. Tax cuts indeed. I do believe in legal immigration, for sure.
By the way, Bernie became a millionaire because he wrote a best-selling book. That’s it.
I think I understand your views; I hope you understand mine too. I know these threads will make it seem that your comment is more likable than mine – those who patrol these threads are not Bernie-friendly.
*Those who patrol these threads are not Bernie friendly.
OMG thats Mega Baloney. There are tons of Bernie zombies patrolling the Seven Days reader comment threads. They go on high alert every time Paul Heintz publishes anything thats not pure, unadulterated flattery of the Dear Leader.
Mr. Messing,
Thanks for your civil response. However, you seem to indicate that things aren’t running so well. You also mention tax cuts that benefit billionaires. I’m a retiree living off a fixed income and pensions. The tax cuts worked out well for me and I’m not anything near a billionaire!
Further, please at least acknowledge the strength of the US economy. Look at employment, low unemployment and increased wages. Look at the stock market and the growth for average 401k-ers. Stability in the companies is a huge plus. Speaking of a huge plus, the US is now the leader of the world in oil exports. All this and our carbon emmissions have been reduced. But I digress.
I do believe and hope that the Federal government does provide security and works on infrastructure. Nobody in America is denied healthcare but insurance should be privatized. Competition will lower rates. Personally, I now pay more for health insurance for 2 than I ever did for a mortgage payment. Every year it goes up and the government mandates I have it. We’re healthy, but have few choices.
So back to the point of Bernie’s fundraising. I personally believe his donors are not looking at contributing weighing all the information that is out there. Does anyone really believe that big government will make life better? I don’t.
Regards.
Ah…more words of wisdom from the rabid KYAssumptions!
Perhaps you can be my nemesis, “Mega Baloney.” You claim these columns are infested with “Bernie supporters” or whatever. You hardly leave them room! Just keep track of the likes and dislikes…
———————————————————
Thank you, former Vermonter (?),
I’m glad you are doing well – I wish more were doing as well. You have your ideas neatly in a row, and I’m not likely to change your mind. If more plain citizens benefited from the giant tax cuts that gave us a truly giant deficit, I’d have a different opinion. As Will Rogers said, “Money trickles up.”
For many people I know, the economy is not doing so well as you say. They feel very differently, and their wages have not risen. Healthcare competition, the system we now have, is not bringing costs down a bit – they are Up. Healthcare is fabulously expensive, and few can handle their premiums and deductibles. Glad you’re okay. Check the prices in different countries for medical procedures.
You’re doing alright, so everyone should be happy with the system we have?
Thank you.
*For many people I know, the economy is not doing so well as you say.*
Well, its certainly true that Trump has further tilted the national economy toward the well off.
But the Vermont legislature continues to do everything in its power to make matters worse for Vermonters. By raising taxes, by driving up expenses, by antagonizing and driving out employers, by driving out wealthy residents and the taxes they pay, and by turning Vermont into a low-income retirement home where so many people cant earn a middle class living. By God, what other state cheers and closes a state budget gap when one wealthy resident dies???
Maybe 4MERVTER is doing ok because he left.
Thanks for pointing out the VT Sledgislature misdeeds, Know Your Assumptions. It is precisely the reason I left the State where I raised my kids because the taxes were eating me alive. I now reside in a warmer climate with no State tax and reasonable property tax with more services provided for the dollar paid. You cannot retire in VT. Certainly no financial incentive or advantage. The Fed tax cuts helped me out with a lower tax rate. So now I have a little more walking around money!
Not sure Mr. Messing read/understood my previous post. Health insurance is out of control. Rather than having the government continue to run, I’m wanting to go back to private insurance. Competition in a capitalist society usually delivers better options if not a lower rate.
Peace
So our government should stay out of healthcare? You were doing better before ACA? Are you doing really well, as in the 1%? Or what percent would you say you are? [If a billionaire was 100 and a homeless person was a 1? And a minimum-wage person was a 5, perhaps?]
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/27/upshot/…
and
https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-…
This is why I say it’s not going all that well even with “competition”. And why so many countries…
[And by the way I know nothing about pledges and campaigns – some one else will have to field that one.]
Carry on.