Biden campaign, focused on post-debate stability, reveals June fundraising totals
President Biden’s campaign said Tuesday it raised $127 million in June with the Democratic Party, a sign of strength in a month that ended with a fraught debate that cast doubt on the president’s re-election campaign.
Biden’s campaign and affiliated groups said they raised $38 million in the four days after Biden stumbled through a debate with former President Donald J. Trump, struggling with answers and at times appearing confused. Top campaign officials, in instances such as a call with top donors Monday night, have pointed to the continued strength of Biden’s fundraising as a reason for Democrats not to panic.
Mr. Biden’s June fundraising was also fueled by an event featuring Barack Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts that raised about $28 million, a record for a single Democratic Party fundraiser. That event took place two weeks before Thursday’s debate.
Biden’s campaign decided to release its fundraising numbers early — federal filings are not due until July 20 — as part of an effort to show strength during an exceptionally difficult period for the campaign. Trump’s campaign has not yet released its June fundraising numbers.
While Biden led Trump in the money race for months, Republicans have recently gained an edge, thanks in part to Trump’s fundraising efforts following his May 30 conviction in New York. Trump’s joint operation outraised Biden in May and April, erasing the advantage Biden had enjoyed for most of the campaign.
Mr. Biden’s haul last month was his largest monthly haul of the election cycle. His campaign four years earlier, however, surpassed that total in June 2020, taking in $141 million.
Faced with poor polling this time around, the Biden campaign has invested heavily in advertising and opening campaign offices. But it is still building up its campaign coffers. In early July, the Biden campaign reported it had $240 million in cash on hand, up from $212 million the month before.
Democrats had some of their best fundraising days after Mr. Biden’s struggles on the debate stage. The progressive fundraising platform ActBlue reported raising $75 million on its platform in the final four days of the fundraising quarter, according to its website.
Shane Goudmacher contributed to the reporting.