Washington: Major political donors will flock to Donald Trump’s Palm Beach rally on Saturday in what he hopes will be a new round in his campaign’s big-money race against Joe Biden.
Although spending large amounts of money on campaigns is not something to brag about in some countries, it is often a source of pride for political candidates in the United States.
Fundraising is just as important this year, with the November 5 presidential election expected to be the most expensive election cycle in US history.
The former Republican president and the chairman of the Democratic Party have been trying to annoy each other for months, celebrating every major money release.
Biden, 81, set a team record by raising at least $25 million in late March when he headlined a major event in New York with former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
Trump, 77, hopes to raise nearly double that — between $43 million and $50 million — at the Florida event Saturday night, according to US media reports.
The event will be held at the home of billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson, not far from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
“The response to our fundraising efforts has been overwhelming and we have raised over $43 million so far. There is great support from so many donors,” Paulson told AFP in a statement to AFP.
“Biggest fundraiser night ever!!! Will double Biden’s last week,” Trump tweeted at The Truth.
The Palm Beach guest list will include Robert Bigelow, an entrepreneur who made his fortune in the hotel industry before starting an aerospace research company, and John Catsimatidis, owner of a major chain of stores. Both are major Republican donors.
Some of Trump’s former Republican opponents include Sen. Tim Scott, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
After the president suspended his campaign, the trio fully supported Trump, and would likely want to serve in his administration if he were to return to the White House.
According to the Washington Post, a seat at Trump’s table is $814,600.
Such astronomical sums are used to finance the candidate’s travel, pay his assistants, poll commissions and, most importantly, buy television ads.
Biden, who has positioned himself as a champion of manufacturing and the middle class, was quick to criticize Trump’s campaign.
“While Trump is raising money from a bunch of hedge fund billionaires, it’s because of people like you that our first campaign raised $187 million this quarter,” he said.
Now, Biden’s campaign war chest is bigger than Trump’s as the former president faces legal fees for several criminal charges.
The Biden campaign likes to refer to Trump as the “Broke Don” in recent comments about the billionaire, known by his middle-class moniker.
Major Trump fundraiser the latest in big bucks battle with Biden
