President Biden’s once-formidable fundraising advantage over Donald Trump has seemingly vanished. This shift comes thanks to a tidal wave of donations following Trump’s conviction in his New York City trial, allowing him to effectively erase Biden’s lead in fundraising. In May, for the second month in a row, Trump and the Republican National Committee outpaced Biden and the Democratic National Committee in fundraising.
While Biden’s campaign has spent millions on ads supporting his re-election, Trump’s campaign has yet to launch a general election ad buy. However, this may soon change as Make America Great Again (MAGA) Inc., a top super PAC supporting Trump, announced a $100 million ad blitz this summer, fueled by a massive $50 million contribution from conservative banking heir Timothy Mellon.
On the ground game front, Biden’s campaign boasts 200 campaign offices and 1,000 staffers in key battleground states. Biden’s campaign director Dan Kanninen claims that Trump cannot match this infrastructure, emphasizing that Trump’s “invisible campaigns don’t win.” However, Trump’s campaign senior adviser Jason Miller counters with poll data showing Trump with a slight edge in key battleground states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Trump’s campaign, while acknowledging its smaller office and staff numbers, insists its paid staff and volunteer operations are expanding daily. They emphasize a leaner, more efficient approach compared to 2020, leveraging allied groups and a strong volunteer base to build a formidable ground game.
Greg Moore, a regional director for Americans For Prosperity, acknowledges the gap in infrastructure between Biden and Trump. However, he emphasizes the high level of enthusiasm among Trump supporters, suggesting a potential advantage in recruiting volunteers. While Biden’s campaign might have a staff advantage, Moore believes Trump’s passionate supporters could make up for it in volunteer numbers.
