Pro-Trump groups have spent significantly more money in recent months than groups that are working to re-elect President Joe Biden. This is according to a Reuters analysis of campaign finance records.
This spending group has spent more than $25 million since Trump clinched the Republican nomination on March 6, Federal Election Commission records show. This is compared to more than $15 million spent by Biden’s allies during the same time.
Trump’s allies spend more to counter Biden’s fundraising advantage
MAGA Inc., the largest pro-Trump super PAC, will report on Thursday that it had $93.7 million in the bank at the end of May. This is up from $33 million at the end of April.
Trump allies say the spending blitz aims to counter Biden’s early fundraising advantage. Biden’s campaign reported $84 million in the bank at the end of April, compared to $49 million reported by Trump.
A source who also spoke on condition of anonymity said. “There’s an effort to strategically weaken Biden’s cash advantage. Right now, Trump’s campaign is able to bank every dollar they raise because his allies at MAGA Inc. are carrying the weight of the ad war against Team Biden.”
Both sides have put most of their recent spending into television attack ads. They are trying to sway independent voters who will determine the outcome of the November elections.
Both campaigns are due to report updated campaign finance figures on Thursday.
“We’re seeing spending essentially at parity and know the campaign will have the resources going into this fall to highlight the stark choice voters have this fall.”
Pro-Trump spending lobby strong despite guilty verdict
The Trump campaign said in a statement that its fundraising was strong, propelled by Trump’s conviction. The campaign highlighted that Trump raised $53 million in the 24 hours after the guilty verdict.
Unlike political campaigns, super PACs face no limits on fundraising, but they are not allowed to coordinate their ad purchases with the candidates they support. They must report spending shortly after it happens.
MAGA Inc. spent roughly $18 million to help Trump’s campaign. The campaign has focussed on a barrage of television and digital ads that have attacked Biden’s immigration policies. They have argued that he is too old to serve a second term.
Biden group not spending much on ads right now
By contrast, Future Forward, the biggest super PAC backing Biden, has reported new expenditures to the FEC that total less than $1 million. This is even though it held $57 million in the bank at the end of April.
A senior Democrat with ties to the group, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it would spend heavily in the final months of the election. This was also done in the 2020 contest when Biden defeated Trump.
With inputs from Reuters
