In a strategic move to bolster its fundraising efforts, the Biden campaign has enlisted the support of former President Barack Obama, raising close to $4 million from grassroots donors, according to sources at CNN. The campaign’s primary initiative, a contest offering a chance to meet both Obama and President Joe Biden, generated $2.6 million, marking it as the campaign’s most successful contest of the cycle, a campaign official disclosed to CNN.
The contest winners, Cynthia Driscoll and her son Nicholas, had the opportunity to meet the two presidents earlier this month. “Teaming up with my friend and brother, @BarackObama, to spend time with supporters Cynthia and Nick was a great experience,” Biden shared on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.
The contest, held in the third fundraising quarter, underscores the campaign’s strategy to increase its small-dollar donations as it amasses funds for the 2024 election. The campaign has been exploring ways to leverage the popularity of Obama, who continues to be a beloved figure within the Democratic Party. Obama has been featured in fundraising videos, emails, and digital ads for the Biden campaign, and he is the highest-performing email signer outside of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and their spouses, the official revealed.
The campaign also plans to launch a direct mail campaign in Obama’s name, with the funds raised expected to contribute to the first fundraising quarter of 2024. Biden and Obama recently collaborated on a video pledging to safeguard and expand Obamacare, amidst threats from potential 2024 GOP nominee, former President Donald Trump, to repeal the health care law if he wins his comeback bid.
Insiders have revealed that Biden’s team is aiming for a target of approximately $67 million for the fourth fundraising quarter, which concludes on December 31. This aligns with the amount Obama raised during his reelection campaign in the same period in 2011. Biden’s campaign and the Democratic Party raised $71 million in the third fundraising quarter, surpassing Trump and other Republican presidential candidates.
Earlier this month, Biden embarked on a five-day fundraising sprint projected to yield over $15 million, marking some of his campaign’s most profitable event hauls. Capitalizing on the popularity of the contest to meet Biden and Obama, the campaign has also organized other contests to meet Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden, as well as a coffee date with Biden and Harris.
The “Meet the Presidents” contest was launched in August on Obama’s birthday and ran through September. Contest winner Driscoll, an employee at the Rhode Island School of Design, donated $100 to enter the contest to meet Obama and Biden. She was accompanied by her son Nicholas, a salesperson for a precious metal refinery and a childhood cancer survivor. Nicholas and his mother had previously visited the White House during the Clinton administration after receiving an invitation in recognition of his cancer survival.