WSJ: Only 7 Percent of Jeb Bush’s Campaign Contributions Come from Small Donors

GOP establishment pick Jeb Bush may have raised $13.3 million for his struggling campaign, but only seven percent of that total came from small donors pledging under $200, the Wall Street Journal reports.

That’s a stark contrast to the campaigns of Donald Trump and Dr. Ben Carson, two highly popular outsider candidates who raked in millions from Americans who can’t spare much in an economy swamped by cheap, foreign labor.

In the same quarter, Carson raised $20.8 million, with 74 percent of donations under $200, and Trump raised $3.9 million, 72 percent of which were less than $200. The average contribution to Trump totaled only $50.46, according to his campaign, and he spent $4.2 million in the last quarter, almost breaking even.

Bush’s campaign, however, raised red flags this week when it announced it would slash its operating costs and halve its headquarters by November 1 after suffering from months of sinking poll numbers and bizarre missteps, such as photoshopping a black man’s hand onto Bush’s body for a campaign mailer, and airing a tone-deaf, post-American pitch to middle class voters.

“The campaign will cut payroll costs by 40 percent, downsize its Miami headquarters by more than 50 percent, reduce travel costs by 20 percent and cut 45 percent of spending on things other than media and voter contact,” Politico reports.

Part of the reason for the cuts could be runaway campaign spending — Breitbart News reported earlier that campaign finance director Heather Larrison likely pocketed over $1.3 million in 2015.

Bush will attend an emergency meeting in Texas to appeal to big-time donors this weekend, the Wall Street Journal adds:

This weekend, Mr. Bush is returning to Houston, where he grew up, to rally his biggest backers. About 170 donors who have each raised at least $50,000 are expected to attend social gatherings and strategy briefings over two days. Those who have raised at least $175,000 will have the most access to the Bush family, including a reception with former President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush.

Email Katie at kmchugh@breitbart.com.