Record-Breaking Fundraising: President Biden’s Campaign Hits $53 Million in February
President Joe Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) raised a total of $53 million during February 2023. This impressive figure includes funds from Biden’s presidential campaign, the DNC, and related joint fundraising committees. With this amount, Biden’s reelection effort now holds an impressive $155 million in total funds – the most significant financial resource any Democratic presidential candidate has ever amassed at this stage of an election cycle.
The substantial fundraising numbers put Biden in a strong position against his main opponent, former President Donald Trump, whose campaign has lagged behind the Democrats’ fundraising efforts throughout the season. Fundraising remains a crucial bright spot for Biden’s reelection bid, even as he grapples with low approval ratings and some polls indicating that he trails Trump in key battleground states.
Scaling Up the Operation: Biden’s Team Prepares for the General Election
With a considerable financial advantage, Biden’s team is currently investing in expanding their operation in crucial battleground states. In March 2023, they plan to open 100 offices and hire 350 staffers to support their efforts in these regions. Biden himself has been extensively traveling to electoral battlegrounds as the general election campaign kicks off, with visits scheduled to Nevada and Arizona this week.
The campaign is also required to cover travel expenses associated with Air Force One usage for political trips and other transportation costs. Additionally, they have invested heavily in television advertising – a $30 million initiative in battleground states began shortly after Biden’s State of the Union address. The campaign reported that this speech generated an impressive $10 million in donations, though these numbers are not reflected in the February fundraising figures.
Biden’s Fundraising Success: A Three-Day Swing in California and Other Top Moments
February was an outstanding month for grassroots fundraising for Biden’s campaign. Notable events included a three-day swing through California, which is estimated to have raised up to $10 million. Other high-performing fundraising moments included the Republican primary in South Carolina, where Biden’s effort secured $1.6 million, and an email campaign from First Lady Jill Biden following the release of special counsel Robert Hur’s report, which generated $853,000.
A contest offering supporters a chance to win tickets to an upcoming event featuring Biden, former Presidents Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton also brought in $4 million during the month.
1.3 Million Donors and Grassroots Support
Since the start of his campaign last year, Biden has received donations from over 1.3 million individuals – with 97% of these contributions coming in under $200. February marked the strongest grassroots fundraising month to date for Biden’s campaign.
In a recent interview, Rob Flaherty, Biden’s deputy campaign manager, shared his perspective on the significance of these fundraising numbers:
“It gives you a barometer of the grassroots enthusiasm, particularly at this stage of the race. It’s going to hockey stick. And your goal at this stage of the race is to get the baseline from which you hockey stick to be as high as possible. And that happens because you’ve got really enthusiastic supporters.”
In 2020, Biden managed to raise money from over 6 million people. As more Americans come to terms with the reality of a potential Biden-Trump rematch and the implications of Trump’s possible return to the White House, Biden’s team anticipates that even more contributions will be unlocked.
Focusing on the Contrast: The Impact of Trump’s Presence in Fundraising Efforts
During February, email solicitations focusing on the contrast between Biden and Trump and reminding supporters of the former president’s record led to a 40% increase in grassroots donations for Biden. Flaherty noted that “the salience of the contrast really grew” during this period, with fundraising from anti-Trump content starting to become more effective.