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Clinton raised $26M in April, topping Sanders' monthly haul for first time in 2016

"Thanks to 1.2 million people across the country, we have the resources we need to continue to run a winning primary campaign while preparing for the general election," Robby Mook, Clinton’s campaign manager, said.

By Doug G. Ware
Former secretary of state and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton shakes hands with students after delivering the keynote speech at the Eagle Academy Foundation's annual fundraising breakfast, titled "Soaring Beyond," on Friday in New York City. Photo by Bryan R. Smith/UPI
Former secretary of state and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton shakes hands with students after delivering the keynote speech at the Eagle Academy Foundation's annual fundraising breakfast, titled "Soaring Beyond," on Friday in New York City. Photo by Bryan R. Smith/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, May 3 (UPI) -- For the first time in 2016, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's monthly fundraising total topped that of Bernie Sanders, with a haul of $26.4 million in April, campaign officials said Tuesday.

The addition brings Clinton's total to around $213 million in primary campaign funds, The New York Times reported.

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"Thanks to 1.2 million people across the country, we have the resources we need to continue to run a winning primary campaign while preparing for the general election," Robby Mook, Clinton's campaign manager, said.

Sanders nearly continued his stretch of out-raising Clinton, raking in $25.8 million for April. His total, $210 million, has also taken a back seat to the former secretary of state.

Reports of the April earnings come alongside Tuesday's primary vote in Indiana, where Sanders looks to shore up a race for the Democratic nomination that hasn't been nearly as close. Clinton has so far won 25 state contests to Sanders' 18 -- but she is more than 90 percent (2,165) of the way to the 2,383 delegates needed to lock up the nomination. Sanders is just 60 percent (1,357) of the way there.

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Indiana offers 83 delegates in Tuesday's contest.

Even though he's facing what might be an insurmountable lead, Sanders has pledged to keep fighting and may even take the fight to the convention floor in Philadelphia in July -- a fight that has some Democratic supporters upset.

An unidentified voter enters the Strawtown precinct in Hamilton County, Indiana, on Tuesday, where Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders faced off in the state's primary election. Photo by Frank Polich/UPI

"At this late stage in the primary, he should stop trying to rile up his people and start to bring everyone together," one longtime Clinton ally told The Hill. "That's what Hillary did for Obama. He needs to set an example and start bringing his people over if he cares about defeating [Donald] Trump in the general election."

Some Democratic officials have said Sanders has virtually no chance to turn the convention on its head -- largely because of the massive superdelegate support already in Clinton's corner and the Vermont senator's dwindling opportunities to close the gap.

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They argue that if Clinton secures the necessary 2,383 delegates before the convention, there's nothing Sanders can do.

Clinton's campaign actually raised $36 million in April but nearly $10 million goes to the Hillary Victory Fund, a joint fundraising drive between the campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state parties. The former first lady entered May with $30 million on hand, the figures show.

While Sanders' April haul is nothing to scoff at, it's nearly $20 million less than he took in for March ($44 million) -- which some analysts believe signifies a stalling campaign.

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