WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden raised US$364 million in August, a record sum that will give him ample resources to compete in the final two months of the campaign against President Donald Trump.
Biden struggled to raise money early in the primary. But since he became the presumptive nominee in the spring, money has poured into his campaign. In July, he all but closed the huge cash-on-hand advantage enjoyed by Trump, who held US$300 million in reserve.
Biden’s August total, which was announced on today, speaks to the enthusiasm among Democrats to oust Trump from office.
The flood of new contributions came from grassroots supporters, as well as deep-pocketed donors, and should alleviate any lingering concern over whether Democrats will be able to inundate the airwaves in key states.
“These numbers humble me,” Biden wrote in a message to supporters. “Even in a global recession, working families set aside some money to power this campaign, and a little bit added up in a big way.”
Already there are signs Biden is flush with cash.
On Monday, the campaign announced it would spend US$45 million on a broadcast and digital campaign this week. The 60-second spot features an excerpt from Biden’s Monday speech in Pittsburgh when he pushed back on Trump’s efforts to portray him as a supporter of the violence and unrest that has erupted in cities such as Portland, Oregon, and Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Trump has yet to release his fundraising figures for August. But his campaign recently acknowledged it was conserving money for after Labour Day. Though Trump plans to spend US$200 million on advertising before the election, the campaign recently went mostly dark on the airwaves.
Trump’s campaign placed an additional US$6 million in advertising this week, though he was still getting outspent by Biden by nearly double, according to advertising data, and that was before Biden announced his new US$45 million advertising plan.
