Trump campaign slightly edges out Biden's campaign in April fundraising
Joe Biden's campaign announced Monday it along with the Democratic National Committee raised a combined $60.5 million in the month of April. This is the first monthly fundraising announcement since Biden became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
But President Trump has maintained a cash advantage. The Trump campaign, along with Republican National Committee and its committees, raised $61.7 million in April, finishing the month with more than $255 million cash on hand.
Last month was the first month where fundraising had to take place 100% in the virtual space due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. According to the Biden campaign, the average online donation to its campaign was $32.63.
The Biden campaign noted its fundraising announcement comes as the United States surpasses more than one million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 80,000 people in the country have died. Another 33 million have had to file for unemployment benefits in seven weeks.
"I am especially humbled because I know what a sacrifice it is to give in economic times as difficult as the one we're in," Biden wrote in an email Monday evening to supporters. "When staring down the face of economic uncertainty, you chose to put your money behind me. For that, I will always be eternally thankful."
In the month of April alone, Biden's campaign held at least 20 virtual fundraisers as it made the shift to a digital campaign. Its virtual fundraiser on April 23 raised $1.1 million, while another that same day reportedly raised more than $300,000.
"This nation has been knocked down. But if there's one thing I know, it's this: There is no quit in America. Never has been. Never will be. We're getting back up," Biden said in his email.
"These numbers prove immense grassroots enthusiasm for Joe Biden," The DNC wrote in a tweet about the combined fundraising numbers. "We're proud to be working together to mobilize supporters and elect Democrats nationwide."
The Biden campaign touted April's cash haul as a major increase over fundraising during the same period in 2016. However, at that time, Hillary Clinton was still in a heated primary fight with Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination.
On April 24, the DNC confirmed it was creating a joint fundraising committee with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. The move would allow donors to give a maximum donation to the "Biden Victory Fund" of $360,600.
In March, as the race winnowed for the Democratic presidential nomination, Biden's campaign announced it had raised $46.7 million. During that month the DNC brought in more than $32 million including $18 million transferred from Mike Bloomberg's presidential campaign. At the same time, the Trump campaign announced it along with the Republican National Committee raised a combined $63 million in March alone.
The Trump campaign and RNC's combined $61.7 million cash haul in April brings its total fundraising this cycle to $742 million.
"Once again the Trump campaign's colossal fundraising haul reaffirms that President Trump will lead an unstoppable juggernaut this November," Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement. "While the do-nothing Democrats have recklessly held up funds for our nation's small businesses and played political games with the lives of the American people, President Trump's consistent record of unprecedented action is met with overwhelming enthusiasm and support."
Mr. Trump has not held a campaign rally since March 2. The Charlotte, North Carolina, rally was the last one before the coronavirus forced Americans across the country to shelter in place.
In the six weeks since then, his campaign has held a series of online broadcasts while the president has appeared regularly at the White House press briefings to give updates on the pandemic.
"While day-to-day life may have slowed this past month, enthusiasm and support for this President has not," said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in a statement. "With their time, resources, and ultimately their vote, Americans across this country continue to put their faith in President Trump."
While some states have started to reopen, the Trump campaign has not yet indicated if or when it would start holding rallies again, but the President has stated it is a key component of his re-election campaign and that he would like them to continue.
Presidential campaigns and parties face a May 20 filing deadline with the Federal Election Commission.