Clinton Campaign Memo: Trump Raising $80 Million in July Is a ‘Wake up Call’

Hillary Clinton’s camp see Donald Trump’s raising of $80 million in July as a “wake up call,” according to a memo scheduled to be circulated on Monday.
Clinton Campaign Memo: Trump Raising $80 Million in July Is a ‘Wake up Call’
Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally with democratic vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen Tim Kaine (D-VA) at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on July 30, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
8/8/2016
Updated:
8/8/2016

Hillary Clinton’s campaign sees Donald Trump’s raising of $80 million in July as a “wake up call,” according to a memo scheduled to be circulated on Monday.

In the 750-word letter obtained by Politico titled “Wake Up Call” from campaign manager Robby Mook to high-level donors, the Clinton team expresses concern over Trump’s “best fundraising month of the campaign.”

“This was far more than anyone expected—and should be a wake-up call to all Hillary supporters. We must redouble our efforts in the coming weeks,” said the memo, also pointing out Clinton’s own $90 million raised between the campaign and other Democratic committees.

In the letter, Mook said the campaign was “very proud” of the more than $469 million raised throughout the campaign, but that Clinton is behind compared to President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign in which he raised $520 million during the same time frame.

“With only three months to go, it is critical that we close the gap between President Obama’s record-level fundraising and the pace we are currently on,” the memo says.

“Falling short of the resources raised in 2012 will require us to scale back from the investments President Obama’s campaign made in organizing, data and other critical tools,” it adds.

To haul in more money from donors, Clinton, her running mate Tim Kaine, and former president Bill Clinton, will visit over more than 25 states and will headline over 80 finance events, according to Politico.

(L-R) Democratic nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, and democratic running mate U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) during a campaign rally at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 29, 2016. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
(L-R) Democratic nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, and democratic running mate U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) during a campaign rally at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 29, 2016. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Clinton went to Florida on Monday after touring in Pennsylvania and Ohio over the weekend .

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are also expected to aid former secretary of state with fundraising. 

The letter also pointed out the campaign’s on-the-ground abilities, arguing that the money raised this month is vital for the campaign, especially with the campaign’s efforts to register 3 million voters before the fall.

“We have to make investments now in order to scale our organizing programs in time to be ready for GOTV. Our ability to reach targeted voters and turn them out will be decided by the number of organizers we can hire now and the volunteers they can start recruiting today,” wrote Mook.

He also mentioned the importance of Clinton’s TV ads.

“Similarly, we know that television in the quieter month of August and in early September will do much more to cement the narrative of the campaign on our terms than in the last few weeks of the election. Simply put, a dollar raised in August has a much greater impact than one raised in October, especially if Trump closes the gap with us,” Mook wrote.

Clinton has had positive post-Democratic National Convention poll numbers. The former secretary of state is leading over Trump in Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, polls show. She is also leading in various national surveys. Clinton is beating Trump with 50 percent support among registered voters, compared with 42 percent for the Republican, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Sunday. Last month she was leading by 4 points, 47 percent to 43 percent.