Pete Buttigieg Just Raised Nearly $20M, Cementing His Top Tier Status

Money keeps flowing to Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign. The Democratic contender raised $19.1 million in the third quarter of 2019, his campaign announced.

That's not quite the field-crushing $24.8-million take his campaign pulled in during the second quarter, when he pulled in more than any other Democratic campaign. This time, he trails at least Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose campaign announced a $25.3-million haul for the third quarter, according to the USA Today.

Buttigieg's third quarter numbers show he significantly outpaced California Sen. Kamala Harris, who announced $11.6 million, according to Politico. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker announced a haul of just over $6 million, according to the New York Times.

But other top tier candidates have yet to annouce third quarter totals, most notably former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, raised $125 million over the same period, CNBC reports. That's money the Republican incumbent largely can save as Democrats continue to battle in a crowded primary field.

The new funding certainly helps keep Buttigieg in the mix as the February caucuses in Iowa draw closer.

"We will have the resources to go the full distance, and to win, the 2020 nominating contests," campaign manager Mike Schmuhl said in a campaign announcement.

RealClearPolitics' polling index shows the South Bend, Ind. mayor right now fourth in the field, averaging around 5.4 percent in public polls. That's still behind Biden, Warren and Sanders, but ahead of California Sen. Kamala Harris.

Buttigieg has already made LGBTQ history as the first out candidate to ever appear on at a nationally televised presidential debate.