Biden’s political operation raised $51 million in April, a significant drop from March, but boasts a war chest of $192 million.

CNN
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President Joe Biden’s political operation raised $51 million in April, a significant drop from March’s fundraising, according to totals released Monday by his campaign.

Biden’s campaign and its affiliated committee still ended the month with $192 million in the bank, according to aides — a war chest they described as the highest cash figure for a Democratic candidate in the history and which they believe puts the president in a position to compete. effectively with former President Donald Trump.

Trump aides announced earlier this month that he had raised more than $76 million for his campaign and allied committees in April, after the presumptive GOP nominee ramped up his joint fundraising operation with the Republican National Committee and headlines high-dollar fundraisers, even as he spends part of his trial week in Manhattan criminal court.

Biden’s political operation had announced raising more than $90 million in March, capped by a fiery State of the Union address at the start of the month and a high-profile fundraiser in New York at the end of the month which featured him with two of his predecessors, former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Fundraising has been a highlight of Biden’s campaign, as he battles consistently weak poll numbers and close elections in key battleground states. On Monday, his aides worked to cast the slower pace of fundraising in a better light, highlighting what they said were signs of enduring small-dollar support and organizational strength.

In a statement, Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said the April crop reflected “continued strong popular enthusiasm for the re-election” of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. She said Trump’s campaign “continues to spend money” and has “no game on the ground.”

Biden’s campaign said April was the biggest month for recurring donors so far, with those contributors giving more than $5.5 million. They also said the campaign added a million more supporters to its mailing lists last month.

The Biden team said it used its money to build a ground operation with more than 150 offices and more than 500 employees in key battleground states.

Monday is the deadline for presidential campaigns and national political parties to submit monthly fundraising and spending reports to federal election regulators.

Trump campaign aides have not released total cash on hand for all committees affiliated with his election efforts, but Trump’s campaign report, filed Monday evening, shows he ended April with $49.1 million remaining in the bank, barely better than the $45.1 million. the campaign had in its war chest at the end of March.

Both candidates have embarked on the fundraising circuit in recent weeks. Biden is expected to appear at a fundraiser in Los Angeles next month with Obama and actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

This story and headline have been updated with additional information.

CNN’s Alex Leeds Matthews contributed to this report.