President Joe Biden’s campaign for reelection is receiving a significant amount of funding. Their strategy for the upcoming election year is focused on spending more money and doing so at a faster pace.
Biden is not just showcasing his fundraising skills this month; his campaign is also making substantial early investments in both ground operations and advertising. The goal is to establish a substantial organizational advantage that will leave Trump, the Republican candidate, playing catch-up.
Throughout his career in business and politics, Trump’s controversial actions and statements have consistently garnered significant media coverage, providing him with a constant stream of free publicity. On the other hand, Biden has faced challenges in effectively conveying his message and breaking through the noise, despite being the current President. As a result, the substantial financial support received by Biden and the Democrats will prove crucial in enabling Biden to compete and make his voice heard.
Biden will require a significant amount of funds to extensively campaign in battleground states, where a small number of votes can determine the outcome of the election. Additionally, he must tackle the task of engaging with millennials and younger voters, who played a crucial role in his 2020 coalition. This is especially challenging considering the fragmented media landscape, which leans more towards streaming services rather than traditional broadcast and cable networks.
In a proactive move, Biden’s campaign has recently ramped up its organizational and outreach efforts. Building off the momentum of his State of the Union address, the campaign has strategically opened 100 new field offices across the country. In addition to this, they have expanded their team of paid staff members in crucial battleground states to a robust count of 350 individuals. Furthermore, the campaign has allocated a substantial $30 million budget for television and digital advertising, specifically targeting diverse communities such as Black, Hispanic, and Asian voters.
In a striking demonstration of the current president’s organizational advantage, the Biden campaign officials revealed that his reelection campaign had a staggering 480 staffers on the ground in February. In comparison, Trump and the Republican National Committee had a significantly lower number of 311 staffers. This stark contrast highlights the formidable advantage that the incumbent president possesses in terms of campaign resources and manpower.
During a meeting of his national finance committee in New York, President Biden proudly announced that his campaign is already ahead of Trump and his supporters in terms of setting up campaign headquarters and field offices. He emphasized that they are actively hiring staff all over the country, even before Trump and the MAGA Republicans have opened their own offices. The meeting, attended by 200 of Biden’s top donors and fundraisers from the city and its surrounding areas, served as a platform for the President to highlight the progress they have made in organizing and mobilizing support for his administration.
Despite facing a significant disadvantage in terms of ground game, Trump managed to secure the presidency in 2016, a fact that the Democrats are well aware of.
Robby Mook, campaign manager for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential bid, describes it as one of the persistent challenges faced by Trump. According to Mook, Trump’s unique ability to motivate and organize people from the podium makes him his own best organizer.
According to Mook, the Biden campaign is taking the necessary steps to achieve its goals. He highlights the State of the Union as a prime illustration of how they are successfully rallying their supporters and capitalizing on the anti-Trump sentiment that will undoubtedly inspire many Democrats in the upcoming elections.
According to Mook, one of the fascinating and nerve-wracking aspects of politics is the uncertainty leading up to Election Day. He believes that it is crucial for politicians to leave no stone unturned and take advantage of their greater resources. Having an advantage in resources allows them to explore various strategies and options.
Biden’s traditional campaign is expected to be significantly more expensive this year.
In contrast to the previous year of 2020, when numerous Americans were confined to their homes due to the pandemic, Biden will now have to increase his travel engagements. Additionally, he must also establish a more extensive political framework, which will require considerably higher expenses compared to the socially distanced and virtual campaign he conducted from his basement during his previous run.
Fast forward to the present, and the doubts surrounding his fundraising operation have diminished. In addition to hosting lucrative events across the nation and raising an impressive $26 million at a gathering that included Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton on Thursday evening, the president proudly highlights the fact that he has attracted 500,000 new donors in recent weeks. This serves as evidence that his appeal is broadening.
Democratic Party donors and fundraisers say that even those who are not fully supportive of the president are now contributing.
“I believe that individuals are genuinely interested in hearing their perspectives,” remarked Michael Smith, a prominent Hollywood contributor and organizer. He recently hosted an event in Los Angeles, featuring musician Lenny Kravitz, and organized another gathering in Palm Springs alongside the president’s wife, Jill Biden. “They understand that supporting them is a worthwhile investment.”
The Trump campaign acknowledges that Biden and the Democrats are expected to have more funds available for spending. However, they maintain that Trump will still be able to conduct a successful campaign due to his knack for attracting media attention.
“Our digital online fundraising is experiencing exponential growth, while our major donor investments are steadily increasing. The fundraising prowess of President Trump has Democrats running scared,” expressed Steven Cheung, the communications director for the Trump campaign. He further added, “Not only are we successfully raising the required funds, but we are also strategically deploying assets that will contribute to President Trump’s re-election and support Republicans across the board.”
However, since Trump has a tendency to make controversial statements, this can be both advantageous and disadvantageous for him. Democrats, with their financial advantage, are likely to capitalize on this by running ads. Additionally, Trump’s legal fees from the numerous ongoing court cases are sure to have a negative impact on his financial situation. According to records, his political campaign has already spent a significant $80 million on covering court costs in the last two years.
According to Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt, Donald Trump has made promises to become a dictator right from the start of his term, with intentions to suspend the Constitution and escalate political violence to a level even worse than what was witnessed on January 6. Hitt further asserts that Trump’s MAGA agenda is so extreme and toxic that a significant number of Republicans in swing states opted to vote for Nikki Haley instead, even after she had dropped out of the race. It is Hitt’s belief that Trump lacks the necessary resources and determination to regain the support of these crucial voters.
In 2016, Trump managed to captivate the American public with his unique political approach. However, it remains uncertain whether he will be able to replicate this success in the future. Throughout the 2020 election, as the sitting president, Trump had a significant advantage, as he was constantly in the spotlight, especially during the lockdown period when people were glued to their television screens.
Josh Schwerin, a Democratic strategist who previously worked at Priorities USA, the Democrats’ main super PAC during the 2020 presidential campaign, emphasized the need to question assumptions about Trump’s ability to dominate mainstream media conversations, given the evolving media landscape and the changing sources of news for voters.
According to the expert, the challenge of reaching voters with news is becoming increasingly difficult as fewer people rely on traditional media outlets. He emphasizes the importance of financial resources for both candidates in order to effectively disseminate information to the public. In this regard, the Biden campaign’s financial advantage is expected to play a significant role.
