<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Democratic candidates have until October 15th (the next debate) to release their fundraising totals for the third quarter (July-September) to the FEC.</span></p>
<p>Bernie Sanders is in the lead with $25.3 million, followed by Elizabeth Warren with $24.6 million, Joe Biden with $15.2 million, Pete Buttigieg with <span class="s1"> $19.1 million, and Kamala Harris with $11.6 million.</span></p>
<p>These numbers don&#8217;t quite line up with nationwide polling data, which <span class="s1">shows Biden still in the lead, followed very closely by Elizabeth Warren. Grandpa Sanders is in third place with 16.8% and Buttigieg is in fourth place with 5.5%.</span></p>
<p class="p1">As we move closer to the Iowa caucus in February, there is a growing realization among candidates that cash on hand will make or break a campaign.</p>
<p><span class="s1">“If you are being outraised 3 to 1 by Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, or Joe Biden, you have no viable path to victory,” says Rufus Gifford, former finance director for Barack Obama. “Even if you can compete in the early states…shortly thereafter you will run out of money.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Cory Booker recently reached his goal of $1.7 million after asking Hillary Clinton for help and Steve Bullock has applied for public financing to support his campaign.</span></p>
<p class="p1">And then you have President Trump and the RNC, which pulled in a whopping $15 million <span class="s1">during the three days following the announcement of the impeachment probe. Trump and the RNC had previously announced donations totaling more than $135 million for the quarter, and over $300 million for the year.</span></p>