Former vice president Joe Biden and his campaign initially started off trailing Donald Trump in terms of cash reserves. But over the recent months and especially following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Democratic nominee has now outraised Trump and his campaign financially.
Financial records released by the Biden campaign over the weekend revealed that Biden and the Democratic party now have $141 million more than Trump and the Republicans. The surge in donations came in August, when Biden selected California Senator Kamala Harris to be his running-mate, and then this month following Ginsburg’s passing.
Even as Biden and the Democrats now have more financial resources, they also outspent Trump and the Republicans 2 to 1. Biden and his campaign spent $130 million in August while Trump spent $61 million. On advertising during that month, the Biden campaign spent $94.3 million while the Trump campaign spent $55.7 million.
Following Ginsburg’s death, liberal donors shelled out money to back Democratic candidates via the ActBlue platform. During the weekend alone, the donations to ActBlue surpassed $100 million. There is also former candidate Mike Bloomberg’s $100 million pledge to campaign for Biden in Florida. The Biden campaign has since spent $116 million in campaigning for the weeks ahead until election day in November.
Ginsburg’s death immediately signaled Trump, his allies in the Senate, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to make a move in appointing a new Justice less than two months until election day. However, Democrats are turning the precedent set by the Republicans against them by calling to choose a new Justice until after the elections. Biden was among the Democrats who echoed this sentiment while speaking in Philadelphia.
Biden implored a few Republicans whose votes would decide whether or not to push forward with confirming a new Justice before election day. Two GOP Senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have already opposed selecting a Justice nominee until after the elections. The former vice president also laid out that should he beat Trump in the elections in November, then he will consult both parties in the Senate before making his nomination.
“If Donald Trump wins the election, then the Senate should move on his selection and weigh the nominee he chooses fairly. But if I win this election, President Trump’s nominee will be withdrawn and I should be the one who nominates Justice Ginsburg’s successor,” said Biden.