Washington: The Biden campaign announced a fundraising milestone, pulling in $127 million in June. This impressive figure comes amid concerns about President Joe Biden's age and performance in debates.
June was “the campaign’s best month of the cycle,” according to a press release read. The campaign now boasts $240 million in cash, up from $212 million the previous month.
Following intense scrutiny over Biden's debate performance and his political future, the campaign highlighted these fundraising numbers to showcase grassroots support. Campaign Chair Jen O'Malley Dillon addressed the National Finance Committee, acknowledging the challenges but showing no signs of Biden reconsidering his re-election bid.
A virtual meeting with about 500 donors aimed to calm concerns raised by top Democrats after the debate. O'Malley Dillon reassured donors of Biden's health, referencing a positive health report from earlier this year.
Despite criticisms, the campaign saw strong financial support, raising over $33 million between Thursday and Sunday morning after the debate. Thursday marked the campaign’s best grassroots fundraising day so far.
Biden's team has a significant war chest, funding campaign offices and staff across battleground states and investing heavily in advertising. Nearly two-thirds of June's $127 million came from grassroots donations, with 95% of contributions under $200. Notable fundraisers featuring former President Barack Obama, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton also contributed significantly.
However, Biden’s debate performance led to new anxieties among Democratic donors, with some calling for drastic measures or seeking a new nominee. The campaign and its supporters have worked to mitigate the fallout, urging voters to consider Biden's overall record rather than focusing solely on the debate.
Chris Korge, the Democratic National Committee’s finance chair, urged unity and calm among donors during a Zoom call, encouraging them not to panic over Biden’s race against former President Donald Trump. Quentin Fulks, a deputy campaign manager, attributed any poll drops to negative media coverage rather than Biden's debate performance.
Some Democratic officials expressed dissatisfaction with the campaign's tone, particularly the use of terms like “bedwetting brigade” to describe critics. This language was seen as dismissive of serious concerns within the party about Biden's fitness for a second term.
Despite these internal tensions, the campaign's recent fundraising success follows a challenging period for Biden politically. The campaign also noted that Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts in late May may have energized their donor base.
In a statement, Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez highlighted the strong support for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizing the clear choice voters face in the upcoming election.
Biden participated in high-dollar fundraisers in New York City, East Hampton, and Red Bank, New Jersey, over the weekend. This strong fundraising performance follows two months where Trump’s political operation outpaced Biden’s in donations, partly due to a surge in contributions after Trump’s conviction.
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