In their Thursday report on the state of the Democratic primary at the start of the election year, ABC’s World News Tonight took the opportunity to boast about how well their candidates were doing terms of fundraising. But, they were the only broadcast network to omit how President Trump’s fundraising numbers were blowing them out of the water, $46 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 alone.
“With just over a month left until the Iowa caucuses, the remaining candidates barnstorming the state and releasing their latest fundraising numbers,” announced ABC reporter Eva Pilgrim from Iowa. “Bernie Sanders raising a whopping $34.5 million in the last quarter. Pete Buttigieg taking in $24.7 million. While former Vice President Joe Biden having his best quarter with $22.7 million.”
As for Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren’s fundraising, Pilgrim noted she “has not released her numbers yet. Today, attacking her competitors.” Before the end of the segment, she added: “While Biden may not be leading in fundraising, he has been the focus of many of President Trump's attacks and says he survived and is still going strong.”
While ABC was trying to ignore Trump’s massive addition to his war chest, CBS political correspondent Ed O’Keefe appeared on the CBS Evening News and put it all into perspective.
“But they're all dwarfed by President Trump, whose re-election campaign raised $46 million for the quarter and has a whopping $102 million already in the bank,” he reported. “The President credits the ongoing impeachment saga for helping raise money.”
A hard fact for many in the liberal media to swallow, O’Keefe did the math and found Trump’s fundraising “easily tops what former President Obama had for his re-election campaign at the same point in 2011.” An on-screen graphic showed that Obama had $81.76 million “in the bank” for re-election.
Trump’s fundraising was brief mention during a similar report on NBC Nightly News. “But President Trump beats each of the Democratic contenders in the fundraising frenzy, raising $46 million over the same period even as he battled impeachment,” White House correspondent Geoff Bennett shared with viewers.
Prior to touting Democratic fundraising numbers, Pilgrim bemoaned former HUD secretary Julian Castro dropping out of the race. “Tonight, the Democratic field narrowing. Julian Castro announcing he's dropping out of the race for president,” she said. “Castro, the only major Latino candidate, has been outspoken about the increasing lack of diversity.”
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
January 2, 2020
6:43:25 p.m. EasternWHIT JOHNSON: Now, to the race for 2020. The Democratic field is narrowing again tonight. Julian Castro, the only Latino in the running, announcing he is dropping out. And with the Iowa caucuses just a month away, there are new fundraising numbers just out, revealing the state of the race. ABC's Eva Pilgrim is in Iowa.
[Cuts to video]
EVA PILGRIM: Tonight, the Democratic field narrowing. Julian Castro announcing he's dropping out of the race for president.
JULIAN CASTRO: So today, it's with a heavy heart and with profound gratitude that I will suspend my campaign for president.
PILGRIM: Castro, the only major Latino candidate, has been outspoken about the increasing lack of diversity.
CASTRO: They need to create a presidential primary system that actually reflects the diversity of this country and of this party.
PILGRIM: With just over a month left until the Iowa caucuses, the remaining candidates barnstorming the state and releasing their latest fundraising numbers. Bernie Sanders raising a whopping $34.5 million in the last quarter. Pete Buttigieg taking in $24.7 million. While former Vice President Joe Biden having his best quarter with $22.7 million. But for the campaign season, still lagging far behind those rivals.
Do you think you've raised enough money?
JOE BIDEN: Well, I know we have.
PILGRIM: Elizabeth Warren has not released her numbers yet. Today, attacking her competitors.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): I didn’t spend one single minute selling access to my time to millionaires and billionaires.
[Cuts back to live]
PILGRIM: While Biden may not be leading in fundraising, he has been the focus of many of President Trump's attacks and says he survived and is still going strong. Whit.
JOHNSON: Eva Pilgrim on the campaign trail for us, thank you.
