Former President Trump's campaign reports outperforming President Biden's in fundraising, while Biden faces criticism after a poor debate performance.
The CNN Presidential Debate between President Biden and former President Trump has sparked a political storm, with analysts criticizing Biden's performance and questioning his ability to remain the Democratic standard-bearer. The debate has also cast a shadow over Biden's fundraising efforts, with the Trump campaign boasting of a fundraising advantage over the incumbent president.
According to campaign finance reports released Tuesday, Trump's campaign and the Republican National Committee (RNC) raised $331 million during the April to June quarter, outpacing the $264 million raised by the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The Trump campaign also highlighted that it had $284.9 million in cash on hand at the end of June, compared to Biden's $240 million.
Biden Trails Trump in Fundraising, Faces Scrutiny After 'Meltdown' Debate
Biden's fundraising advantage, which he held earlier this year, eroded after Trump and the RNC topped Biden and the DNC in fundraising for the first time in April. In May, the Trump campaign and the RNC further strengthened their position, hauling in $141 million, outperforming Biden and the DNC by a significant margin.
The Trump campaign's fundraising success comes amid growing criticism of Biden's performance at the debate, which was widely seen as faltering and uninspiring. The Democratic Party has been rattled by the debate, with pundits, editorial writers, and even some party officials calling for Biden to step aside as the party's 2024 standard-bearer.
Biden Trails Trump in Fundraising, Faces Scrutiny After 'Meltdown' Debate
Biden's campaign has tried to shift the narrative, highlighting that he raised $127 million in June, topping Trump's $111.8 million fundraising haul in that month. The campaign also boasted of setting a Democratic Party fundraising record at a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles that featured former President Obama and Hollywood stars.
However, the Trump campaign has dismissed Biden's fundraising efforts as futile, arguing that the incumbent president has wasted millions of dollars on television, cable, and radio advertising without seeing any significant improvement in polls or voter enthusiasm. The Trump campaign has also pointed to its own surge in fundraising as a sign of Trump's enduring popularity and the Democrats' ongoing disarray.
Biden Trails Trump in Fundraising, Faces Scrutiny After 'Meltdown' Debate
Fundraising is a key metric used to gauge the strength of a candidate and their campaign, as it provides resources for grassroots outreach, get-out-the-vote operations, staffing, travel, and advertising. The Biden campaign has been investing heavily in grassroots outreach and get-out-the-vote ground game efforts in key battleground states, while the Trump campaign has focused on expanding its presence across the swing states and preparing for a large-scale convention.
The Trump campaign remains confident that it will continue to outpace Biden in fundraising, pointing to the former president's enduring popularity and the Democrats' struggles. The Biden campaign, on the other hand, argues that it has the resources and the organization to mount a formidable challenge and secure a victory in 2024.
Biden Trails Trump in Fundraising, Faces Scrutiny After 'Meltdown' Debate
