President Biden’s campaign reported a record-breaking fundraising month in June, despite the 81-year-old Democrat’s poor debate performance against GOP candidate Donald Trump.
The campaign raised $127 million in June, nearly 50% more than in May. About 30% of this amount, or $38 million, was collected in the hours leading up to and following his difficult debate on June 27, where Biden’s performance included pauses, a raspy voice, and sometimes disjointed thoughts, disappointing many of his top Democratic supporters.
Prior to the debate, the Biden campaign had already been highlighting its impressive grassroots donation figures. This media push occurs amid growing concerns among Democrats about Biden’s cognitive abilities and his suitability for a second term, with some influential supporters suggesting he should step aside.
June marked the campaign’s best month in the 2024 election cycle, raising the second-quarter total to $264 million with $240 million in cash reserves. This strong performance improves Biden’s standing compared to Trump, who had surpassed Biden in fundraising in both April and May.
Trump’s team has not yet disclosed its June totals. In May, Trump gained significant financial support following his guilty verdict in the Manhattan “hush money” case, collecting $53 million within 24 hours of the verdict and ending the month with a record $141 million, compared to Biden’s $85 million. Trump also raised $76 million in April, surpassing Biden’s $51 million for that month.
To boost his numbers, President Biden spent the last month attending several high-profile fundraisers nationwide, including a billionaire-hosted event in the Hamptons and a Hollywood fundraiser with George Clooney and Julia Roberts, which alone raised $30 million. The campaign cited these fundraising successes as evidence that Biden should continue his 2024 campaign.
Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez emphasized the strong support for Biden and Vice President Harris, highlighting the election’s choice between Biden’s commitment to the American people and Trump, characterized as a convicted felon.
