The Latest: Democratic hopefuls raise $75M in 1st quarter

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on first-quarter fundraising totals posted by Democratic presidential candidates (all times local):

1 a.m.

Democratic presidential candidates raised about $75 million during the first quarter of the 2020 election, a lackluster sum spread out across more than a dozen campaigns that signals a drawn-out battle likely lies ahead.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders led the field by raising $18 million while California Sen. Kamala Harris came in second with $12 million.

Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke came in third with $9.3 million, followed by South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who capitalized on a flurry of publicity to raise $7 million.

The rest of the field of more than a dozen candidates raised $6 million or less apiece.

Democratic candidates not only lag behind President Donald Trump, who raised $30 million, but took in less than the party did during the same period in the 2008 election.

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6:40 p.m.

Democratic presidential hopefuls collectively raised over $70 million during the first fundraising quarter of the 2020 election cycle, significantly less than they did the last time the party had a wide open primary.

For example, Democratic candidates in the 2008 election raised about $81 million during the first quarter.

The lackluster fundraising by a crowded field of more than a dozen contenders is a sign that a drawn-out primary battle lies ahead. The money troubles come as many donors sit on the sidelines to see how the contest unfolds.

Democrats' fundraising haul also pales in comparison to the $30 million President Donald Trump alone raised during the first quarter.

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11:55 a.m.

The crowded field of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates is showing early signs of money trouble as donors sit on the sidelines to see how the contest unfolds, signaling a drawn-out primary battle lies ahead.

The Democratic campaign comes into greater focus Monday as declared White House hopefuls report their first quarter fundraising totals. Early glimpses provided by nine of the more than a dozen declared candidates show they are raising less money than in previous cycles.

Totals released by those campaigns show Democrats collectively raised about $66 million since January. That's less than the $81 million Democrats raised during the same period in 2007, the last time the party had a wide open primary.

It pales in comparison to the $30 million President Donald Trump raised during the first quarter.