Trump raised $80M in July, highest monthly total, but still trails Clinton

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump raised a combined $80 million in July between direct campaign contributions and joint fundraising efforts with the Republican National Committee, his campaign announced Wednesday.

The amount is about $10 million shy of the figure posted by Democrat Hillary Clinton, which her campaign announced Tuesday.

The amount marks Trump's highest monthly fundraising total, though his campaign has only been soliciting donations in significant amounts since May, after he effectively captured the Republican nomination.

The Trump campaign said it took in $64 million in direct donations, and as a result of joint mail and online fundraising campaigns with the Republican National Committee. Trump, as he has the last three months, matched the first $2 million in direct contributions from his personal fortune.

The total amount of cash brought into the Trump for America campaign fund was $56 million, the campaign statement reads.

The candidate also hosted 20 fundraisers for the joint account Trump shares with the RNC and several dozen state parties, raising an additional $16 million for the Trump Make America Great Again Fund. Because he shares that account with the RNC and state parties, only a portion of the money raised can be given directly to Trump's campaign.

The Trump campaign reported "strong" cash-on-hand figures for both funds. Both the Trump for America and Trump Make America Great Again accounts posted $37 million each entering August in available cash.

"We are extremely proud of our 69 percent growth in small-dollar donations which shows the broad-based support of over 1 million donors across America. Our volunteers and contributors are clearly committed to electing Donald J. Trump as president in November." said Steven Mnuchin, Trump's campaign finance chairman.

The amounts lag behind those posted by Clinton a day earlier. She raised a total of $90 million in July, her largest monthly total to date in the campaign. Her primary campaign account, Hillary for America, reported $58 million cash-on-hand, $21 million more than Trump.