The $1.5 million first-day fundraising haul for Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) was gushed over by Slate as "Bernie-esque," but it turned out to be just a small fraction of what Bernie Sanders was able to raise.
Campaigns typically announce their opening fundraising numbers when they think it's a sign of strength, and the Harris campaign viewed the $1.5 million it raised from 38,000 donors as good enough to go to Politico with. The numbers were compared to those from Sanders's 2015 campaign launch when his long-shot challenge to Hillary Clinton raised $1.5 million in its first day.
"These numbers reveal a campaign powered by the people—an energetic, nationwide movement eager to elect Senator Harris and support her vision of an America that actually works for the people," her campaign said.
If the amount raised in the first 24 hours is a sign of energy, then there is about four times as much behind Sanders, who raised $5.9 million from 225,000 donors in his first day.
The fundraising strength from Sanders shows that many remain committed to supporting the 77-year-old Vermont socialist following his 2016 Democratic primary defeat.
Sanders has been credited with moving the entire Democratic field to the left. Harris, for example, has embraced the Medicare-for-All solution to health care that was popularized by Sanders on the 2016 trail.
Both Harris and Sanders are viewed as frontrunners in the crowded 2020 field.