FOLLOW THE MONEY – AT 9:54 A.M. ET:   With all of Donald Trump's boasting about his business skills, the fact is that his campaign is in terrible shape financially.  It's embarrassing, and could subject him to major ridicule.  After all, money is his business.  From CNN: 

Washington (CNN) Donald Trump faces an extraordinary money deficit unheard of in modern presidential politics, entering the month with tens of millions of dollars less than Hillary Clinton.

Clinton's campaign had $42 million in the bank as of May 31, according to its report filed with the Federal Election Commission Monday. Her super PAC Priorities USA has $52 million.
Trump's campaign has $1.3 million.

The gulf emerges as Democrats lay out plans to spend that cash on an onslaught of television advertising that Trump has shown no urgency in matching. Clinton and her allied groups are planning to spend $117 million between Tuesday and Election Day on television -- much of it anti-Trump television -- while Trump and his groups have $700,000 in time awaiting him thus far.

Trump, who just began actively fundraising last month with a $3.1 million haul, also has a super PAC benefiting him -- but it has only $500,000 in the bank. Two other big-money groups will not be required to disclose their fundraising position until next month.

The New York billionaire can presumably close the money gap with one check, but hasn't indicated he will do so. The candidate and his allies have consistently emphasized the ability to run a leaner campaign than Clinton's.

On Tuesday, Trump appeared to dismiss the fundraising issue, telling NBC's "Today," he's willing to "do what i did in the primaries."

"I spent $55 million of my own money to win the primaries. 55, that's a lot of money by even any standard," Trump said. "I may do that again in the general election."

Trump added that he had "a lot of cash" but added that "it would be nice to have some help from the party."

COMMENT:  I'd be more concerned about that massive Clinton ad buy.  The Clintonistas are attempting to define Donald Trump even before the general-election campaign starts its September home stretch, and they will probably succeed.

The Republican convention begins July 18th.  If Trump doesn't show some serious life by then, the convention may become a nasty, contested affair.

June 21, 2016