Democrats enter the presidential contest's homestretch with a big cash advantage.
President Trump's campaign announced late Thursday that it, the Republican National Committee and joint committees raised $248 million in September 鈥� a strong haul but nonetheless well behind the record-setting one-month sum collected by Joe Biden's campaign and his party.
On Wednesday evening, Biden's campaign said it, the Democratic National Committee and joint fundraising efforts in September 鈥� breaking the one-month record Democrats had set just the month prior, in .
September's fundraising edge further boosts the advantage Democrats hold in the bank.
Trump's campaign announced Thursday it has $251 million cash on hand, compared with the eye-popping $432 million Biden's campaign says it has in the bank.
Despite the disadvantage, Trump communications director Tim Murtaugh that "President Trump hits final stretch with strength, resources, record & huge ground game needed to spread message and secure re-election."
Trump's campaign has long been talking up its ground game, especially as Democrats for months door-to-door canvassing amid the coronavirus pandemic, and as the Biden campaign maintains a greater presence on paid TV.
A recent of data from the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics found that Biden and Democratic allies have outspent Trump and supporting groups by $240 million on TV ads in six crucial states.
Trump did get a boost from one key Las Vegas couple in recent weeks, as casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam gave $75 million to a new super PAC that's backing the president.
Last month, Trump also said he some of his own money on his reelection bid.
It's unusual for an incumbent to trail a challenger in fundraising, but Democrats 鈥� from Biden to candidates down the ballot in key Senate races 鈥� have been raising impressive sums of money in recent months.
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