Joe Biden raised $15.2 million during the third quarter this year, putting him well behind the fundraising high-marks set by the 2020 presidential campaigns of Democratic rivals Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg.
Biden revealed his haul during a fundraiser in Palo Alto, California. The former vice president’s team then officially disclosed his numbers ahead of the mid-October deadline, noting 98% of all donations were less than or equal to $200 for an average contribution of $44.
“Today’s fundraising totals put the campaign in a strong position as we enter the fall. The question any campaign faces at this point is whether or not you have the resources to compete in early states and sustain your efforts beyond. Our campaign unequivocally does and builds on our strength each week,” Biden campaign manager Greg Schultz said in a statement. “Just today, we announced a $6 million ad buy across television and digital in the early states, and we are investing heavily in our field operations, where we have well over 200 staff and dozens of field offices open with more to come through the fall and winter. We will continue executing on our broader strategy to build support and reach voters to make Joe Biden the Democratic nominee next summer, and beat Donald Trump like a drum next November.”
Schultz touted that 56% of donors were new contributors, while 70% of supporters donated to Biden for the first time this election cycle.
This is not the first time Biden, Delaware’s senator for 36 years, has divulged financial information in front of donors. During a fundraiser last week in San Marino, California, Biden he told attendees he had received 670,000 donations from about 350,000 people, with an average contribution of $46.
Biden’s efforts fall short of the cash hauls by Sanders and Buttigieg with the Vermont senator taking in $25.3 million, and the South Bend, Indiana, mayor raising $19.1 million. California Sen. Kamala Harris brought in $11.6 million, tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang $10 million, and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker $6 million over the same reporting period.
Biden has been criticized by rivals for the 2020 nomination, like Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, for still hosting exclusive, high-dollar fundraisers. Warren, who trails Biden in second place according to polling averages, has shunned the events in favor of a small-donor, grassroots strategy. Warren’s campaign has not yet released third quarter fundraising totals.
