Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are set to host an exclusive fundraising dinner for President Biden in Virginia next month. The event is being organized by former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and will take place just days after a fundraiser in Los Angeles featuring President Barack Obama, Biden, and Clinton. This multi-president fundraising strategy has been successful in the past, helping Biden outraise former President Trump in the 2024 cycle. A similar program in New York raised $26 million in a single night.
Biden is facing pressure to maintain his fundraising lead, especially as Trump’s campaign received $76 million in donations in April, compared to Biden’s $51 million. The fundraising totals in April were a shift from March, when Biden and the DNC brought in around $90 million versus $65.6 million for Trump and the RNC. Despite Trump’s success in April, Biden still has more cash on hand, with his campaign and related committees holding $192 million.
Trump’s April fundraising was boosted by a record-setting $50.5 million raised at a single event with GOP donors in Palm Beach, Florida. The Biden campaign has highlighted its small dollar donations, stating that the majority of their April raise came from grassroots donors, with one million more supporters added to their email list that month alone. They criticized Trump for focusing on courting billionaire donors rather than building a grassroots fundraising program.
In response, Trump’s campaign advisers emphasized their grassroots fundraising ability, noting that half of their funds come from small dollar donors, indicating an energized base. They affirmed their commitment to raising the resources needed for victory in the upcoming election. Both campaigns are ramping up their fundraising efforts as the race heats up, with Biden and Trump each seeking to maintain financial advantages to support their campaigns in the coming months.
