The Biden campaign has raised $27 million from the day of the first presidential debate through Friday evening, a campaign spokesperson announced on Saturday.
This figure comes amidst President Joe Biden’s post-debate fundraising efforts, aiming to keep pace with former President Donald Trump’s recent surge in donations.
In May, the Biden campaign, the Democratic National Convention, and Biden-affiliated PACs and committees collectively raised $85 million, falling short of Trump’s $141 million haul in the same month despite his conviction on 34 felony charges.
The post-debate fundraising push also aims to reassure donors that Biden can still secure a Democratic victory in November, despite his stumbling performance at Thursday’s first debate against Trump.
Following the 90-minute debate in Atlanta, Biden traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday to hold a rally where he spoke with renewed energy and acknowledged his debate missteps.
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“Folks, I don’t walk as easily as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth,” he said.
After North Carolina, the president flew to New York to deliver remarks at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in honor of Pride Month. Later that evening, he attended several campaign receptions.
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Biden will continue his fundraising efforts with more receptions on Saturday in New York and New Jersey before returning to Camp David later in the evening. These events are expected to boost the $27 million fundraising total.
The Biden campaign has not yet responded to inquiries about how much of the new fundraising came from grassroots donors online versus higher-dollar donors.
Since Thursday’s debate, Democrats have been working to mitigate the fallout from Biden’s performance. Supporters, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, have addressed the debate blunders while urging voters to look beyond them.
However, some Democratic strategists are calling for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race and transfer his delegates to a new candidate.
Biden and Trump are scheduled to debate again on September 10, offering Biden a potential opportunity to improve his standing with voters, many of whom are concerned about his age and ability to handle a second term.
