President Biden‘s early fundraising advantage has vanished.
Former President Trump has been raking in the cash since his May conviction, notably bringing in $53 million in the hours after he was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents.
The Hill’s Brett Samuels breaks down the numbers:
April fundraising - Trump/RNC – $76 million
- Biden/DNC – $51 million
May fundraising - Trump/RNC – $141 million
- Biden/DNC – $85 million
Cash on hand - Trump/RNC: $171 million
- Biden/DNC: $157 million
Keeping perspective: Despite falling behind in fundraising for two consecutive months, the Biden campaign is still raking in money, helped by tens of millions of dollars in donations from big-name backers.
The campaign used its early fundraising advantage to plow money into ad campaigns, infrastructure and staff in the swing states that will be critical in determining the outcome of the election.
Democrats also question how much of Trump’s money will go to his legal defense, rather than to campaign operations. Still, Trump’s recent fundraising blowouts are indicative of how his convictions have rallied his supporters.
The Federal Election Commission filings from late Thursday night don’t even capture the full picture of the hundreds of millions of dollars sloshing around the election economy. - Billionaire Timothy Mellon donated $50 million to a pro-Trump super PAC the day after Trump’s guilty verdict. The PAC has announced plans to spend $100 million in four battleground states before Labor Day. Mellon has also tossed millions to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign.
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The Winklevoss twins announced Friday they’d donate $1 million in bitcoin each to the Trump campaign, saying Biden’s policies have been bad for crypto.
- Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg cut a $19 million check to a pro-Biden super PAC.
- Biden’s numbers this month don’t include the estimated $30 million haul from a glitzy Hollywood fundraiser earlier this month with former President Obama, Jimmy Kimmel, George Clooney and Julia Roberts, among many others.
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Border encounters down; Biden’s approval ticks up
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Border officials are reporting a significant drop in migrant encounters weeks after President Biden’s executive action limiting asylum claims for those trying to cross into the U.S. from Mexico. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Friday that encounters have decreased by 25 percent, although they noted “migration flows are dynamic.”
Biden’s border order addressed one of his glaring weak spots against former President Trump, as polls show border security will be a top issue driving voters to the polls in November.
It’s too early to call it a trend, but Biden’s job approval rating has ticked up slightly in recent weeks:
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The latest American Research Group poll finds Biden’s approval jumping 5 points month-over-month.
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According to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s aggregation of polls, Biden has ticked up from 39.6 percent approval on May 24 to 43.8 percent now.
- It’s a small move, and Biden is still deep underwater amid voter concerns about immigration, the economy and his age.
Meanwhile, Trump busted out an immigration surprise of his own.
The former president said he’d support green cards for international college graduates in the U.S. The proposal mirrors one from Hillary Clinton in 2016. Speaking on the “All-In” podcast, Trump said it could be a way for the U.S. to retain talent that would otherwise return home to India or China. |
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Debate strategies crystalize
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Debate prep for President Biden and former President Trump is in full swing ahead of Thursday’s showdown.
Biden is hunkering down at Camp David, while Trump famously takes a more freewheeling approach that will include a lot of improvising. Trump is holding a campaign rally on Saturday in Philadelphia to sharpen his skills.
The stakes are heightened, as it’s one of only two presidential debates this cycle. Some Republicans are fearful that they’ve set the bar too low for Biden after months of casting the president as mentally adrift and unable to perform basic tasks.
Trump took a different tack Thursday, saying on the “All-In” podcast that Biden is a “worthy debater” and that he doesn’t want to “underestimate” him. The Hill’s Brett Samuels reports that Trump’s allies are already laying the groundwork to push back if Biden notches a strong performance. They’re making baseless claims that Biden has used performance enhancing drugs for speeches in past instances when he’s risen to the moment. But Biden faces real questions about his age, so the debate will give him a chance to convince voters he’s up for another term.
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Biden attorney preps for election challenges
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President Biden’s personal attorney Bob Bauer suggested in an interview with Politico on Friday that he’s preparing for legal challenges to the 2024 election results.
Bauer singled out Michigan, a critical battleground that Biden won in 2020. More than a dozen GOP officials in the state were charged in a scheme to send fake electors to Congress certifying former President Trump as the victor.
“We’re seeing — and have seen — election officials say, ‘If I’m not satisfied with the outcome here, I may not certify; I’ll just block it.’ And you saw that play out very dramatically in Michigan in 2020. That is something that we might see more of this time around.”
More courts and campaigns: -
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) says he’ll sue the state of New York over the charges brought against Trump that resulted in 34 felony convictions. Bailey asserts that New York’s “unconstitutional law fare” against Trump is keeping Missourians from participating in a “free and fair election.”
- Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) says he’ll pursue a recount and wants a “full investigation” into the vote counting in his primary against Republican John McGuire. Votes are still being counted, but McGuire holds a small lead after getting a boost from Trump.
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Former White House adviser Steve Bannon filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court as he seeks to avoid prison. A lower appeals court denied Bannon’s bid on Thursday.
- A Florida judge appointed by Trump is holding a hearing to determine if Jack Smith’s appointment as special counsel is constitutional.
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Latest from the Supreme Court
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The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal law stating that people under domestic violence restraining orders cannot possess firearms. Justice Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenter in the 8-1 decision. The next round of decisions will come down Wednesday, with the possibility of a ruling in the Trump immunity case. Read more: - The New York Times: The Supreme Court keeps Democrats’ dream of a wealth tax alive for now.
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The Hill: Supreme Court denies New Mexico-Texas motion to resolve Rio Grande dispute without federal input.
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Trump proposal to eliminate taxes on tips gains steam within GOP
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Republicans are running with former President Trump’s proposal to eliminate taxes on tips. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has introduced the “No Tax on Tips” Act in the Senate, and there’s a companion measure put forward by Republicans in the House. Not all conservatives are on board. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said tipped workers shouldn’t be treated differently than other low-wage workers. Democrats are pointing to remarks from The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which estimated it would lead to a decrease in federal revenue of between $150 billion and $250 billion over 10 years. Read more: -
Trump’s “tax-free tips” proposal gets headlines even as experts raise eyebrows.
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6 days until the first presidential debate.
24 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
59 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
137 days until the 2024 general election.
213 days until Inauguration Day 2025. |
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Friday - President Biden is at Camp David for debate prep.
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Vice President Harris headlines a campaign event in New York City this evening before returning to Washington.
Saturday - Trump holds a rally at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
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