Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is trailing former President Trump in the Republican presidential race, but she’s still pulling in millions to fuel her long-shot bid, new filings show.
Filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) show Haley’s campaign brought in more than $11 million last month, ending with around $13 million cash on hand. Her campaign announced a total January haul of $16.5 million across its committees.
The cash influx is a boost to Haley’s campaign as she promises to stick it out at least until Super Tuesday next month, when more than a dozen states will hold their primaries and caucuses.
Trump has dominated the early states so far and boasts a massive lead over Haley in her home state of South Carolina, which hosts its GOP primary this weekend, but the former governor is shrugging off the dismal polling numbers.
“South Carolina will vote on Saturday, but on Sunday I will still be running for president,” Haley told supporters this week.
Trump still has more in the bank, according to the latest filings, but his operation is notably paying millions in legal expenses as he faces 91 charges in state and federal criminal indictments, as well as multiple civil cases.
His Save America leadership PAC spent nearly $3 million on legal bills last month, after his fundraising committees spent a staggering $50 million in legal fees last year.
“It doesn’t matter how many gold sneakers Donald Trump sells, his endless drama and legal bills will deplete the Republican Party and bring even more electoral losses,” said Nachama Soloveichik, Haley’s communications director.
Trump debuted a line of $400 tennis shoes last week.
A release from Haley’s campaign suggested Trump could turn the Republican National Committee (RNC) “into his personal legal defense fund” if he gets the nomination.
President Biden, who is set to win the Democratic nomination as he vies for a second term, brought in more than $42 million in January across his campaign, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and joint fundraising committees, ending with roughly $130 million in cash on hand.