Biden enjoys record-breaking fundraising haul as polls show him beating Trump by double digits

Former vice president blows past April fundraising efforts despite campaign having become fully virtual

Former Vice President Joe Biden celebrated a record-breaking fundraising haul on Monday as the presumptive 2020 Democrat presidential nominee’s campaign announced it raised over $80m last month after teaming up with the Democratic National Committee.

The former vice president’s campaign received an average online donation of $30, according to a financial disclosure candidates are required to release by 20 June. President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign has not yet released its figures along with those from Republican National Committee.

Mr Biden’s campaign raised a stunning $80.8m, the largest haul of any Democratic candidate in the party’s once-historically crowded field. It’s a $20m increase from the previous month, when the former vice president’s campaign and the DNC raised a reported $60.5m. Mr Trump’s campaign and the RNC raised $61.7m in April.

“I’m in awe of this sum of money. Just a few months ago, people were ready to write this campaign off,” Mr Biden said in a statement.

He added: “I understand what these dollars mean. When facing uncertainty and recession, you chose to back me. I will never forget that. And I promise that when I’m president, I won’t let you down.”

The fundraising haul is especially astonishing given the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the US economy and 2020 campaign trail.

Nearly 40 million Americans have lost their jobs since the pandemic began, while the campaign cycle has gone virtual, with candidates being forced to make their pleas for support entirely online.

At a time when the Democratic nominee would likely be hosting large rallies and town halls, Mr Biden is instead conducting television interviews from his basement and hosting a podcast that discusses his vision for America.

Meanwhile, he is beating Mr Trump by double digits in several recent polls, including on a local-level in states that helped him secure his 2016 victory, and national polls that showed Mr Biden opening up his lead as the pandemic worsened throughout the US.

By Monday, Mr Biden held a seven-point lead over Mr Trump nationally, according to a Real Clear Politics polling average, while he was above the president by 11 points in states like Virginia in a new Roanoke College survey.

Mr Biden is also beating Mr Trump by a 12-point lead in Michigan, a state the president narrowly won in 2016 and that is seen as crucial in his re-election.