Trump Dwarfs Biden In Latest Fundraising Numbers In Show Of Political Force After Felony Convictions | EUROtoday

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s marketing campaign outraised President Joe Biden by greater than $60 million final month, in line with federal filings that detailed the Republican fundraising explosion sparked by Trump’s felony convictions.

Biden’s marketing campaign and the Democratic National Committee collectively raised a strong $85 million in May and reported $212 million within the financial institution on the finish of the month. The robust exhibiting doesn’t embrace roughly $40 million raised by Biden and his prime surrogates in current days — or a separate $20 million donation from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to pro-Biden teams.

Still, Trump’s fundraising for, for one month not less than, appeared to dwarf Biden’s, in line with the filings made public Thursday.

The Trump marketing campaign and the Republican National Committee mentioned it raised a jaw-dropping $141 million in May, together with tens of tens of millions donated instantly after Trump was convicted of 34 felonies within the New York hush cash case. At the identical time, billionaire Timothy Mellon donated a shocking $50 million to a pro-Trump tremendous PAC the day after Trump’s responsible verdict, in line with the filings.

Overall, Trump’s marketing campaign and the Republican National Committee reported greater than $170 million within the financial institution on the finish of May, though Biden’s marketing campaign questioned whether or not the teams have been devoting sources to cowl Trump’s authorized charges.

“Our strong and consistent fundraising program grew by millions of people in May, a clear sign of strong and growing enthusiasm for the president and vice president every single month,” mentioned Biden marketing campaign supervisor Julie Chavez Rodriguez. “The money we continue to raise matters, and it’s helping the campaign build out an operation that invests in reaching and winning the voters who will decide this election –- a stark contrast to Trump’s PR stunts and photo-ops that he’s pretending is a campaign.”

Taken collectively, the numbers detailed within the campaigns’ newest Federal Election Commission filings counsel Democrats should keep a money benefit within the 2024 presidential contest. But virtually 4 months earlier than Election Day, Trump’s facet is closing the hole — if it isn’t closed already.

The new fundraising figures additionally underscore the extent to which the principles of presidential politics are being rewritten within the Trump period.

At virtually another time in U.S. historical past, a presidential candidate would have been compelled to depart an election after being convicted of dozens of felonies. But in 2024, Trump’s responsible verdict has as a substitute fueled an enormous fundraising surge that places his group ready to ramp up promoting and swing- state infrastructure simply as voters start paying nearer consideration to the election.

Backed by Mellon’s large donation, the pro-Trump tremendous PAC often called MAGA Inc. on Thursday reserved $3.5 million in tv promoting set to start July 3 throughout Georgia and Pennsylvania, in line with the media monitoring agency AdImpact. Overall, the group reported a $68.8 million haul for May, ending the month with $93.7 million within the financial institution.

Mellon has been among the many largest donors to Trump and impartial candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., though his assist for Kennedy could also be fading.

Kennedy raised $2.6 million final month and completed May with $6.4 million within the financial institution. The overwhelming majority of his fundraising whole got here from operating mate Nicole Shanahan, a rich Silicon Valley lawyer. The Kennedy marketing campaign spent greater than it raised for the month.

The numbers reported Thursday didn’t embrace something raised in June, together with roughly $40 million raised by Biden and his prime surrogates in current days. The overwhelming majority got here from a glitzy fundraiser final Saturday with film stars and former President Barack Obama in Los Angeles that raised greater than $30 million. First girl Jill Biden additionally has been on her personal private fundraising swing that has introduced in $1.5 million.

Meanwhile, Biden additionally bought a giant enhance from Bloomberg.

The billionaire philanthropist, who briefly ran for president as a Democrat in 2020, despatched $19 million to the pro-Biden group Future Forward along with sending the authorized most of $929,600 to the Biden Victory Fund, in line with an individual acquainted with the transfers.

Bloomberg additionally formally endorsed Biden on Thursday. “I stood with Joe Biden in 2020, and I am proud to do so again,” Bloomberg mentioned in an announcement.

The Biden marketing campaign mentioned the overwhelming majority of its newest fundraising got here from grassroots donors equivalent to nurses, academics and retirees. Overall, the Biden marketing campaign and Democratic National Committee attracted greater than 3 million new donors final month, in line with an announcement from the marketing campaign.

“While Trump is leeching off his billionaire sycophants, our campaign represents the voices of America, and we’re honored to have their support as we race toward November,” Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison mentioned.

AP writers Seung Min Kim in Washington and Jill Colvin in New York contributed.