Biden increases his financial lead over Trump

President Biden’s re-election campaign raised $71 million available by the end of February, more than double the $33.5 million in former President Donald J. Trump’s campaign account, as Democrats continued to expand their fundraising advantage over Republicans in the presidential race.

The cash difference was detailed in filings with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, as campaigns and some presidential committees faced a deadline to file fundraising and spending reports for February.

Mr. Trump replenished his campaign account in February, adding more than $3 million in cash since January, when he ended the month with about $30 million on hand. But Biden’s campaign, which ended January with $56 million, added $15 million in February.

While Mr. Trump leads Mr. Biden in most national polls, Mr. Biden and the Democratic Party have a growing cash advantage — a gap that has become one of the most pressing issues facing Mr. Trump, who has been busy some of the Republican Party’s biggest backers during private dinners at Mar-a-Lago, his club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida.

Still, the financial picture remains incomplete: Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden are raising money through joint fundraising committees, which won’t file reports until mid-April. These commissions transfer money to the campaigns, which are better able to pay salaries and buy advertising time at the lower rates guaranteed to the candidates.

Over the weekend, Mr. Biden’s team reported raising a total of $53 million in February, all committees supported his re-election bid, with a total of $155 million, up from $130 million at the end of January. The April reports will provide more details on how this money was raised and from whom.

As sitting chairman, Mr. Biden has spent months raising money with the Democratic National Committee — a massive operation that is building out the fieldwork needed for the general election.

Mr. Biden will also be supported by more than $1 billion that outside groups have pledged to support his bid — money separate from the party bills introduced on Wednesday.

Trump’s campaign told Fox News on Wednesday that it had raised a total of $20.3 million through a joint fundraising committee, with $42 million available between the two groups.

Part of Mr. Biden’s advantages are those of a traditional incumbent. Mr. Trump only became the presumptive Republican nominee in February and immediately moved to empty the Republican National Committee and fill it with loyalists. The committee itself reported raising $10.7 million in February and ended the month with $11.3 million.

Mr. Trump’s legal battle has also put a drain on his overall election funds. He faces four criminal charges and civil suits, which are proving costly. Last year, committees supporting him spent at least $50 million on legal fees, records show, and those costs are likely to balloon as he prepares for possible lawsuits this year.

A super PAC supporting Trump, Make America Great Again Inc., reported raising $12.8 million in February, with $25.5 million on hand, up from $19.7 million at the end of January.

The report filed Wednesday for one of Trump’s committees — a leading PAC called Save America, which he has used to pay his legal bills — reported $4 million at the end of February, up from more than $6 million in January.

That change appears to be attributable to an increase in Mr. Trump’s legal costs. The group spent nearly $5.6 million in February on bills for the legal teams that defended him.