Share
News

Biden and DNC, Struggling To Catch Up To Republicans' Fundraising Advantage, Try New Deal

Share

Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee have expanded their fundraising agreement to include 26 state parties as Democrats look to dent the Republicans’ money advantage and build a national campaign foundation heading into the November election.

The arrangement allows a new $620,600 maximum contribution that a single donor can give to the party at one time.

That’s up from the $360,600 cap under the first fundraising deal that the presumptive Democratic nominee signed with the party on April 24. The included state parties can get a maximum of $10,000 from each donor, while Biden is capped at $5,600.

The rest goes to DNC campaign and operating accounts.

Biden’s campaign and the DNC planned to file papers for the deal on Saturday with the Federal Elections Commission.

Trending:
KJP Panics, Hangs Up in Middle of Interview When Reporter Shows He Isn't a Democratic Party Propagandist

The GOP has similar arrangements in place that have given President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee a head start on building a national organization.

Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law and a campaign adviser, said this past week that the GOP has more than $250 million cash on hand; Biden’s campaign said the Democrats have a combined $103 million.

But Democrats said the joint fundraising operation, still in its infancy, positions Biden and the party to keep pace for the remainder of the campaign.

“We’ve seen the momentum build across the country, and we’ll continue to build out the organization that will defeat Trump” and “elect Vice President Biden and Democrats across the country,” said Greg Schultz, Biden’s former campaign manager who is now based at the DNC.

Do you think Biden will defeated President Trump in November?

The arrangement comes as Biden expands his influence with the national party and works with the DNC and state parties.

The idea is to build “coordinated campaigns” in pivotal states where field organizers and volunteers will reach voters on behalf of all Democrats running in November. In addition to trying to unseat Trump, Democrats are looking to retain their House majority and wrest control of the Senate from Republicans.

“We believe that there will be battleground states that have never been battleground states before,” Biden’s campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, said Friday. “We must have a customized approach in each battleground.”

An examination of the 26 states included in the fundraising agreement reveals how Democrats see the competitive landscape in the fall. Some of them are states Trump won narrowly in 2016, some were carried closely by Hillary Clinton and others have have down-ballot races important to the balance of power on Capitol Hill.

The deal also includes some outliers. Biden’s home base of Delaware, a heavily Democratic state, is not viewed as a battleground, though Democrats are defending the governor’s seat this year.

Related:
Pro-Trump Lawyer Arrested on Charges Related to Dominion Voting Machines After Attending Hearing for Client

Vermont, home to Biden’s last primary rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, is likewise a safe Democratic state.

Other states could be added.

For now, Florida, Michigan North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin anchor the map as the five most competitive states that combined to deliver Trump’s 2016 victory. In North Carolina, Democrats also are targeting GOP Sen. Thom Tillis while Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper seeks a second term.

Michigan Democratic Chairwoman Lavora Barnes, whose state gave Trump his closest margin of victory four years ago, said an influx of money is “critical” to boost what the state party already has done since 2016 to “elect Democrats … in every corner of the state.” Michigan flipped its governor’s office and several congressional districts in the 2018 midterms.

Ohio made the cut as well, with Democrats asserting that Trump’s nearly double-digit margin in 2016 was an aberration, not a sign of a more permanent shift.

Minnesota and New Hampshire are states Trump believes he can flip. Colorado has moved steadily toward Democrats in recent years and Republican Sen. Cory Gardner faces a difficult reelection.

O’Malley Dillon has singled out three GOP strongholds as part of an “expanded map” reflected in the fundraising deal.

Arizona, Georgia and Texas have seen demographics shifts and progressively closer statewide elections in recent years. Arizona and Georgia combine to have three Republican-held Senate seats on the ballot, as well.

Alabama, Mississippi and West Virginia stand out as heavily GOP states that won’t be close in the presidential election. But all three have notable Senate races. Democrats are defending incumbents in Alabama and West Virginia, states that Republicans view as potential pickups.

There are notable omissions: Iowa and Maine, for example.

Trump scored a comfortable victory in Iowa four years ago, but Democrats in the state have since flipped two congressional districts and are hoping to oust Republican Rep. Steve King in the fall. Maine is home to GOP Sen. Susan Collins, one of Democrats’ top targets as they try to regain the Senate.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , , , ,
Share
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.
Location
New York City




Conversation