FILE- In this Jan. 16, 2019, file photo Julian Castro, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, speaks to the media at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. The fiercest battle for campaign cash is playing out between the presidential candidates who might not be on your radar. Ahead of Sunday, March 31 fundraising deadline for the first quarter, the underdogs of the Democratic primary were in a mad dash to coax as little as $2 from grassroots donors. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm, File)

2020's underdogs battle for donors to get on debate stage

March 31, 2019 - 8:21 am

The Associated Press

The fiercest battle for campaign cash is playing out between the presidential candidates who might not be on your radar.

Ahead of Sunday's fundraising deadline for the first quarter, the underdogs of the Democratic primary were in a mad dash to coax as little as $2 from grassroots donors.

It's all part of their bid to clear a new threshold from the Democratic National Committee to earn one of 20 highly coveted spots in presidential debates that will begin in June.

Candidates have two paths to the stage: They can either achieve 1 percent support in three reputable national or early nominating state polls or they can collect contributions from at least 65,000 donors, with a minimum of 200 in at least 20 states.

The amount raised doesn't matter. It's all about how many voters are contributing.

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