The Hillary Clinton campaign’s increased attacks on Democratic challenger Bernie Sanders in recent days have produced more than $1 million in donations for the Vermont senator, who is currently leading Clinton in key early states.
The Washington Post reported:
Sanders’s underdog campaign said it is seeing a surge of contributions as a direct result of the new attention it is getting from the Democratic front-runner, with money coming in at a clip nearly four times the average daily rate reported in the last quarter of 2015. In its email appeals for money, the campaign accused the Clinton campaign of making "vicious and coordinated attacks" on Sanders’s health-care plan, which calls for a government-run system. Sanders’ strategists are also considering rolling out advertising beyond the early-contest states where it is airing spots now.
According to Sanders’ spokesman, the campaign had netted $1.4 million in new donations between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.
"As of now, we are at about $1.4 million raised since yesterday when the panic attacks by the Clinton campaign began. We’ve gotten 47,000 contributions. We’re projecting 60,000 donations. Even for our people-powered campaign, this is pretty darn impressive," spokesman Michael Briggs said, thanking the Clinton campaign.
Clinton has intensified her criticism of Sanders in recent days on topics like guns and health care, even dispatching daughter Chelsea Clinton to land jabs at her challenger. The attacks have come just as new polls indicate that Sanders has jumped into the lead in Iowa and extended his lead in New Hampshire, both of which are key early-voting states.
Sanders has cited the Clinton campaign’s attacks as evidence that it is "in serious trouble."
The two candidates, along with long-shot former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, will meet at the next Democratic primary debate on Sunday in South Carolina.