Kathmandu— As Election Day approaches in less than three months, the Democratic Party faces a critical funding gap compared to their Republican counterparts. Despite having political advantages such as an unpopular Republican president and economic challenges, Democrats are struggling with fundraising, particularly from wealthy donors who have largely shifted their support to Republicans this cycle. This financial disparity is primarily due to the significant contributions of corporate and billionaire donors to GOP-aligned super PACs and party committees.

GOP's Financial Edge

Republicans hold a clear edge in fundraising, with their national committee sitting on $130 million compared to just $16 million at the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This financial advantage is largely due to support from billionaire donors. An analysis by the Washington Post found that this year’s top fifty donors have contributed around $1.6 billion, with over a billion of that going to pro-Republican groups and another quarter billion funding “bipartisan” special interest groups.

Democratic Fundraising Challenges

The DNC is not only facing a significant shortfall in funds but also carries $18 million in debt. The Wall Street Journal reported that big donors have 'gone on strike,' indicating a reluctance to support the Democratic Party financially this cycle. This shift in donor behavior presents Democrats with a difficult choice: chase after big money or focus on building mass politics.

(With inputs from Jacobin)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.