Dem
51
GOP
49
The reporting deadline for Q3 fundraising/spending is today, and so the presidential campaigns that did well are hustling to get the good news out a little early. That includes the Biden campaign, which is crowing that the Biden/Harris + DNC take of $71 million was far greater than any other candidate's take, including $46 million for Donald Trump, $15 million for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and $11 million for Nikki Haley. In addition, Biden/Harris has far more cash on hand, $91 million, than Trump ($38 million), DeSantis ($14 million), or Haley ($12 million).
Needless to say, when it comes to money, more is better than less. And there was other good news for Biden, including that the campaign added 240,000 new donors, that 97% of the donations were under $200, and that one-third of the total haul came from donors who gave less than $40. The campaign interprets that as a sign of enthusiasm, which it might be. What you can definitely say is that Biden-Harris has a lot of supporters it can hit up again and again.
That said, there are fewer sunshine and rainbows here than it might seem. In the equivalent quarter in 2019, then-incumbent Trump took in $125 million. And in the equivalent quarter in 2011, Barack Obama took in $70 million, which is about $95 million in 2023 dollars. So, Biden would seem to be trailing both of those men in terms of enthusiasm. On the other hand, Trump lost the 2020 election bigly, which is a reminder that would-be presidents need a large number of mildly supportive voters more than they need a smaller cadre of fanatics. Those fellows who spend 6 hours driving up and down the freeway waving Trump flags still only get one vote each.
As to cash on hand, it's rather easier to maintain a fat bank account when one isn't really campaigning. Biden/Harris finally shifted into campaign mode this month, whereas all the other wannabe presidents have been going full-bore since the start of summer, so let's see where the cash-on-hand sits at the end of Q4 (those reports are due January 15, 2024). Biden will probably still be on the top of the hill, but his lead won't be so substantial. (Z)