Democrats are seeing a flood of grassroots donations and big donors reaching out after President Biden dropped out of the presidential race Sunday afternoon in a stunning move.
He said it was in the best interest of the Democratic Party and the nation.
In an hour after Biden released his bombshell announcement, Democrats brought in more than $5 million in donations, according to tracking on ActBlue.
By the end of three hours Sunday afternoon, the avalanche of donations had climbed to nearly $16 million online and more cash was still coming in. In 20 minutes alone, another $1 million was raised on Sunday evening.
In just over four hours, the total had climbed to nearly $25 million raised. In six hours, it reached $35 million raised. In seven hours, the number hit nearly $50 million.
It is not yet clear exactly where those donations are all going. ActBlue’s tracker includes the total donations, so it would include the national party, Biden campaign and other Democrats.
‘Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,’ he posted. The president included a link to raise funds for Harris’ candidacy.
Major donors DailyMail.com spoke to following the announcement praised the president’s work in office and confirmed that donors are flooding back to help the Democratic ticket.
One bundler told DailyMail.com there has been a ‘MASSIVE response’ in terms of both the amount being raised on Sunday and the number of donors reaching out.
She said she could not keep up with all the people texting her and called the response ‘wild’ and more than what she could have ever imagined.
Another big-time donor called the day ‘bittersweet’ for those who have long supported the Biden administration with the tremendous successes and policy initiatives but said they have ‘every confidence in and the enthusiasm for’ Harris.
“She is brilliant, seasoned by decades of leadership experience in some of the most demanding roles in politics, and I know she will operate with the utmost integrity and compassion to help all Americans, even those who don’t know her yet or who may disagree with her,” she said.
“I love Kamala and will certainly support her,’ said a third bundler.
President Biden’s bombshell announcement came after weeks of questions over whether he was fit to serve a second term following his disastrous debate performance on June 27.
Since then, a slow drip of Democratic lawmakers had been calling for him to step aside.
Harris has backed Biden up until the very end and was out on the campaign trail praising their administration’s work.
After Biden released his letter and endorsed his vice president, Harris officially announced she was running for president and formally filed her candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.
Despite her bid for the White House, Harris is not assured of receiving the nomination. No other Democrats have jumped in the race yet, but it could lead to a wild mini-primary season ahead of delegates officially voting for a nominee next month.
And while it remains to be seen how much money Democrats will raise and where it is all headed, Harris has long been a huge driver of donations within the party.
When she was named Biden’s running mate in August 2020, it ended up being then-candidate Biden’s biggest campaign fundraising day of the entire election season. His campaign brought in$26 million in one day after announcing Harris on the ticket.
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