Biden's Fundraising Challenges: Small Donations Sluggish, Relying on Wealthy Dems

President Biden's campaign and joint fundraising vehicle collected $10.2 million from small donors during the three-month fundraising period that ended June 30, about half of what President Obama's campaign raised during the same period in 2012. Several factors have contributed to the sluggish small-dollar donations, including changes by Google and Apple that make it harder for email senders to track open rates, donor fatigue from constant fundraising emails, and a lack of enthusiasm among Democrats compared to previous election cycles. While Biden's campaign highlighted its grassroots donor operation, the president remains more dependent on wealthy donors than his predecessors, with 21% of funds coming from small donors compared to 35% for Trump in 2016. Experts expect online giving to pick up next year as attention shifts to the Republican primary and the general election.