Trump’s campaign funding colossus is the midterms’ biggest unknown 

The midterms’ biggest unknown is when Trump will unleash his $400 million hoard. It is the biggest campaign war chest; it is also November’s biggest mystery variable. As Trump’s last important political campaign approaches, it has the power to significantly influence the outcome of his last two years in office.

California Democrat Jesse “Big Daddy” Unruh famously said: “Money is the mother’s milk of politics.” No one doubted that then; no one doubts this now. Seconding the sentiment while slightly softening the metaphor, ahead of November’s midterms, President Trump has a dairy farm’s worth at his disposal. 

The Republicans’ cash advantage is staggering. Politico recently reported that Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., has over $403 million cash on hand. Trump himself recently claimed that he has raised over $850 million. And as huge as these sums are, they are only part of Republicans’ advantage. The Republican National Committee reported $128.5 million in cash on hand. In comparison, the Democratic National Committee reported just $16.3 million with $18.5 million in debt.

While these amounts change regularly, the scope of Republicans’ advantage is clear. Republicans’ three major fundraising arms and two affiliated super PACs have a reported $657 million in cash; Democrats have only half that at $334 million.

With the midterms just over two months away, the question is: When will this potential spending tsunami flow? That Trump has every incentive to unleash it is clear. Democrats put his administration through the wringer after taking the House in 2018. What’s more, during the last two years of Trump’s first term,........

© The Hill