Hillary Clinton’s contributions from wealthy donors in California are drying up just as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I, Vt.) is receiving an influx of donations following formidable performances in Iowa and New Hampshire.
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Clinton’s fundraisers in Los Angeles and San Francisco, both extremely wealthy areas, are struggling to fill events where admission generally costs $2,700 per person. Meanwhile, Sanders is outpacing Clinton in online, small-contribution fundraising as he competes with her in the Democratic presidential primary.
"The pond is getting fished out. Everyone is sending invitations to the same group of people. And those people have already given as much as they are allowed to give," a Clinton "loyalist" in the Los Angeles area who has fundraised thousands of dollars for her campaign told the Times.
An adviser to rich area donors further indicated that the Clinton campaign had essentially "burn[ed] through" its big-money donors in Hollywood.
The report comes just as Clinton hosts a slew of events in California following the Nevada Democratic caucus, including two in the Los Angeles area on Monday. Tickets to one event in Studio City start at $1,000, but individuals who pay $2,700 can take a photo with Clinton, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. A second event in Hancock Park will cost attendees $2,700 each at minimum, but those who raise $10,000 can take a photo with the former secretary of state.
The Clinton campaign has faced difficulty filling high-dollar events in the past. The campaign struggled to sell dozens of tickets for a SoulCycle fundraiser hosted by Clinton’s daughter Chelsea in New York City last month. Seats, originally costing as much as $2,700, were as a result reduced to $50 at the last minute.
Sanders has enjoyed boosts in fundraising following a narrow loss to Clinton in Iowa and a significant 22-point win in New Hampshire. Sanders raised nearly $3 million in the 24 hours after the Iowa Democratic caucus and raked in another $6.4 million the day after polls closed in New Hampshire, campaign officials said at the time.
The Clinton campaign, in contrast, has had a more difficult time fundraising recently, leading it to send out desperate emails asking for cash.
One February 11 email about Sanders’ post-New Hampshire fundraising read, "I think he’s dead wrong about who has a better campaign--but unfortunately, he’s right about who has more resources. We were outspent 3-to-1 on television in New Hampshire, and we need to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Can you chip in $1 right now to help close the gap?"
"We have 14 contests in the next three weeks, and we just can’t allow our team to be outraised and outspent like this," the email, signed by Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook, further read.
Fundraising from rich donors on Wall Street is also problematic for Clinton given Sanders’ criticism of her ties to the financial industry. Clinton has been scrutinized for giving private paid speeches to Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street institutions and for accepting millions from the securities and investment industry.