Joe Biden’s campaign raised $26 million in the 24 hours after he selected Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate — an eye-popping total that shows the campaign’s growing fundraising strength as the election draws nearer.
Biden announced the fundraising total during the ticket’s first virtual grassroots fundraiser on Wednesday evening, immediately following Biden and Harris’ first joint campaign event in Wilmington, Del..
The massive cash haul, which included 150,000 first-time donors, is a signal of Harris’ ability to generate enthusiasm for the campaign and the history-making moment of her selection, as the first woman of color named to a major party presidential ticket.
The 24-hour total caps a months-long vice presidential vetting process that included more than a dozen women, including several of Biden’s former 2020 primary rivals.
Biden announced his selection Tuesday afternoon in a text message to supporters, which was immediately followed by his best hour of fundraising in the entire 2020 campaign, a campaign aide confirmed.
“It’s really palpable, the excitement,” Biden said during the fundraiser, according to the pool report.
Biden and the Democratic National Committee have nearly closed the cash gap with President Donald Trump, who has maintained a financial advantage for months. It’s a sharp turnaround for Biden, who struggled to keep pace with his Democratic rivals in fundraising during the primary but quickly grew his finance operation to challenge Trump in the general election.
But after outraising Trump in back-to-back months, the president topped Biden in fundraising in July by $30 million.
Harris has already raised big money for Biden, while she was going through the vetting process. She brought in more than $5 million through headlining fundraisers and other events, including two Zoom events where she appeared alongside Biden.
Back in April, the former vice president raised some eyebrows when he told Harris, “I’m so lucky to have you as a part of this, this partnership going forward,” adding, “I’m coming for you, kid.”
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