Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador, raised more than $11 million in the first six weeks of her presidential run, her campaign said Wednesday, a sizable sum that easily eclipses what former President Donald Trump was able to raise during the same period after announcing his candidacy.
Haley received 70,000 donations, from all 50 states, the vast majority of which were under $200, her campaign said in a news release that described the contributions as a sign of her broad appeal and effective fundraising efforts.
Haley was the first major Republican candidate to enter the race with Trump, who announced his third bid for the White House shortly after the midterm elections in November. He raised only $9.5 million in his first six weeks, his campaign said in February, a relatively weak showing.
But the announcement of criminal charges against him in a hush money case appears to be helping him make up for the sluggish start: He has pulled in more than $12 million since his indictment Friday, his campaign said Wednesday.
Early polling has shown Haley trailing significantly behind Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who has not yet formally entered the race. She has sought, in her early and energetic campaign stops, to position herself as a “tough-as-nails woman” who could offer a seasoned, reasonable alternative.
The fundraising sum reflects the six-week period between Feb. 14, when Haley formally entered the race, and the end of March. An official figure will be released in the coming weeks as part of the campaign’s required quarterly filing. She had about $7.8 million cash on hand at the end of the quarter, her campaign said.
Eric Tanenblatt, a Georgia-based Republican strategist and fundraiser who has supported Haley since her state campaigns, said the numbers “solidify” her as a serious candidate and give her “a good foundation to build on.”
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