Clinton’s allied super PAC laps pro-Trump groups in the money race

Democratic billionaires are helping Hillary Clinton’s outside allies sustain a massive cash advantage over an array of super PACs backing Donald Trump, which are still struggling to match the financial arsenal on the left.

Priorities USA Action, the main super PAC aligned with Clinton, brought in $9.3 million in July, giving it a total of $110 million for the 2016 cycle, according to new campaign finance reports filed Saturday. The group headed into August with nearly $39 million in the bank.

The robust fundraising is due to huge donations from Clinton supporters such as hedge fund founder S. Donald Sussman, who has given the group $11 million in all. In an interview, Sussman called the former secretary of state “probably the most capable and smartest person to run for the presidency.”

“I am motivated to having very smart people put in charge of my business and my government,” he added.

Meanwhile, two of the main pro-Trump groups, Make America Number 1 and Great America PAC, together just pulled in $4.4 million last month. Nearly half the money came from conservative hedge fund magnate Robert Mercer, who gave $2 million.

A third group backing the GOP presidential nominee appears to be doing better since it received the campaign’s blessing last month. Rebuilding America Now, which files on a quarterly basis, reported raising $2.16 million through the end of June, but has spent $11.4 million on anti-Clinton and pro-Trump ads through Friday, FEC filings show. Both Trump and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, have expressed willingness to headline fundraisers for the super PAC.