Biden reaps $5.3M online donation surge amid Trump attacks

WASHINGTON — Joe Biden raised $5.3 million through a surge of online contributions in October that rolled in after President Donald Trump launched unfounded attacks against the former vice president over his son’s Ukrainian dealings.

The swell of cash came from 182,000 donations, with $28 being the average amount given, according to figures provided to The Associated Press by the campaign, which did not include money that Biden raised through big-dollar fundraisers. It comes after his internet fundraising operation stumbled over the summer, leading critics to suggest he lacked grassroots support.

“All of the Trump attacks have started to catalyze. More people understand what is at stake,” deputy campaign manager Pete Kavanaugh said in an interview. “People out there are seeing Joe Biden getting attacked day after day. They understand he needs to fight back.”

The fundraising boost comes amid growing anxiety over Biden’s campaign from would-be allies in the Democratic establishment, who have fretted about his prospects following underwhelming debate performances, middling fundraising success and withering attacks from rivals in his own party and from Trump.

Biden reported raising a less-than stellar $15 million during the third quarter, which ended in September. Though his support has shown no sign of cratering in public opinion polls, the amount was millions less than what Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts took in at the time.

Biden also spent more than he took in during that period and reported having only $9 million in cash on hand at the end of September. His campaign says that’s partially due to start-up costs to build out his online operation.

“We knew we were going to have to spend money and we were comfortable with that,” Kavanaugh said. “You always want more money. But we believe we had made the right decision. We’d rather end with $9 million on hand than not make those investments.”