(Scypre.com) – The Democratic Party responded to President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race with an unprecedented surge in donations, amassing over $50 million online within a single day on Sunday. This remarkable feat marks the most substantial single-day influx of online Democratic contributions since the 2020 election.
The surge in donations, meticulously analyzed by The New York Times using data from ActBlue, the premier platform for processing Democratic contributions, underscores the profound impact of Biden’s exit on the party’s donor base. With Vice President Kamala Harris emerging as a strong contender to secure the nomination, Democratic supporters flocked to ActBlue in droves, contributing at a staggering pace.
Before Biden’s announcement, donations trickled in at an average of under $200,000 per hour. However, following his departure, contributions skyrocketed, with nearly $11.5 million pouring in during a single hour later that day. By 10 p.m., Sunday had become ActBlue’s third-highest day for online donations in its history.
It is important to note that the ActBlue ticker reflects donations made across the platform, encompassing contributions to nearly every Democratic House and Senate candidate, as well as a wide array of politically oriented nonprofits. This means the $50 million total includes donations directed towards various Democratic causes and candidates, not just those supporting Biden or Harris.
Kenneth Pennington, a prominent Democratic digital strategist, captured the significance of the moment on social media platform X, declaring, “This might be the greatest fundraising moment in Democratic Party history.”
Historically, the only day that surpassed the recent influx was the day following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing in September 2020, when ActBlue processed approximately $73.5 million. That day and the recent Sunday are the only instances in which the platform has exceeded $50 million in donations within a single day.
The latest fundraising deluge is particularly noteworthy as it follows a challenging period for the Democratic Party. Recent weeks had been marred by political infighting and a loss of momentum in the face of the ongoing race against former President Donald J. Trump. The party’s fundraising efforts had also faced significant slowdowns among major Democratic donors, exacerbated by Biden’s lackluster performance in a recent debate.
However, Biden’s decision to step down and Harris’s subsequent rise appear to have reignited the enthusiasm and financial support of the Democratic base. As the party rallies to regroup and refocus its efforts, the extraordinary influx of donations signals a reinvigorated commitment from Democratic supporters nationwide, potentially setting the stage for a fiercely contested and well-funded campaign moving forward.