CBS News
Biden’s campaign says it raised $127 million in June as it tries to calm donors after unsteady debate
President Biden’s campaign says it raised $127 million in June, calling it the best fundraising month of his reelection campaign. The campaign also said it entered July with $240 million across its committees, an increase from last month despite expanding its campaign footprint and a $50 million ad buy in June.
The money is a welcome sign for the campaign, which is still dealing with political fallout from his party after a disastrous, unsteady performance from Mr. Biden at last week’s debate. A CBS News poll from Sunday showed that voters, too, are steadily losing confidence in the 81-year-old president’s mental and cognitive health.
Mr. Biden’s campaign says 95% of its contributions for the second fundraising quarter (April through June) were under $200, and that 864,000 of the donors are making their first donation this election cycle.
From April through June, the Biden-Harris campaign raised a total of $264 million. It was outraised by the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee in April and May, when they saw a boost in support after Trump’s conviction in the “hush money” payment trial in New York City. Trump’s campaign has not yet released its June numbers.
But the Biden campaign also benefited from two major hauls in June: a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles that brought in $30 million, and $38 million raised on debate day through the weekend after. The campaign says the hour after the debate set a record for grassroots funding, and that debate day itself was its best day for small dollar donations.
“This election will be close and the stakes couldn’t be higher – which is why [June’s] fundraising haul matters so much. It will ensure that we reach and mobilize the voters who will decide this election every single day,” said Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez.
Exacts of June’s fundraising haul, for both Biden and Trump, will not be known until later this month when both campaigns officially file its respective reports.
Biden’s debate performance heightened existing concerns about his age and mental fitness. A CBS News poll showed that only 27% of registered voters believe Mr. Biden has the mental and cognitive health to serve as president, down from 35% in early June. Comparatively, 50% said they believe Trump does have the cognitive health to serve.
The incumbent president and his campaign have been moving forward, airing an ad Monday that features clips of a much more energetic and focused Mr. Biden at a North Carolina rally the day after the debate (where he did have a teleprompter and was surrounded by supporters).
“Folks, I know I’m not a young man. But I know how to do this job. I know right from wrong, I know how to tell the truth,” Biden said at the rally in Raleigh, N.C.
They’ve also been holding meetings to calm skittish donors, including one call led by campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon on Monday afternoon with more than 600 listeners, according to two attendees of the call.
On that call, Dillon touted post-debate internal polling from the campaign that showed the horse race in the battleground states between himself and Trump is unchanged after the debate, with Trump still leading in a head-to-head matchup by 1% (46% to 45%), and by 2% when third-party candidates are factored in.
A memo of the internal poll by Hart Research says that its May polling had similar gaps between Mr. Biden and Trump.
“While some of President Biden’s 2020 voters say they feel more negative to him as a result of the debate, most of these voters are sticking with Biden: 64% support him in the multi-candidate trial heat, and 77% support him in the head-to-head with Trump,” wrote pollster Geoff Garin in a memo.
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$100 million in federal funds released for North Carolina to rebuild roads, bridges damaged by Helene
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation released $100 million in emergency funds on Saturday for North Carolina to rebuild its roads and bridges damaged by Helene.
“We are providing this initial round of funding so there’s no delay getting roads repaired and reopened, and re-establishing critical routes,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. “The Biden-Harris administration will be with North Carolina every step of the way, and today’s emergency funding to help get transportation networks back up and running safely will be followed by additional federal resources.”
The storm caused rampant flooding that has devastated several towns and killed more than 225 people – with CBS News confirming at least 114 people killed in North Carolina. There was more than 8 inches of rain across the western North Carolina mountains, with some areas seeing more than a foot.
Hundreds of roads across Western North Carolina remain closed, leading to an increase in air traffic as teams scour the region for survivors by air. Air traffic over Western North Carolina has increased by 300% due to relief efforts since the storm cleared, the Federal Aviation Administration and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Mudslides blocked Interstate 40 and other highways in North Carolina and about 400 roads were closed due to damage from Helene. Interstate 40 was damaged at several locations, the Department of Transportation said.
President Biden visited the Carolinas on Wednesday, surveying the flood damage by air from Greenville, South Carolina, to Asheville, North Carolina. Mr. Biden announced the federal government would cover “100%” of all debris removal and emergency protective measure costs in North Carolina for six months.
The Department of Transportation said these relief funds will allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to act more quickly to fund eligible repairs to their damaged facilities.
Li Cohen and
contributed to this report.
CBS News
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf; forecast to strengthen into hurricane headed toward Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane headed toward Florida with possible impacts to its western coast, the National Hurricane Center said on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are expected to be at 40 mph with higher gusts and Milton is currently moving north-northeast, NHC said in an advisory.
Milton is forecast to undergo a period of rapid intensification before it makes landfall as a Category 2 hurricane across Florida’s west coast, CBS News Miami reported.
The forecast comes a little more than a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and across the Southeast, killing more than 200 people and causing immense destruction. President Biden on Thursday took an aerial tour of Florida’s Big Bend where Helene struck as a Category 4 storm. Hundreds of people are still missing and Mr. Biden said the work to rebuild will cost “billions of dollars” as communities suffer still without power, running water and passable roads.
NOAA
Milton is forecast to move across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night then across the south-central Gulf on Monday and Tuesday before reaching Florida’s west coast by the middle of the week, NHC said. Heavy rain is possible in the region starting Sunday into Monday, CBS Miami reported, and more rain and heavy winds will most likely arrive on Wednesday. Hurricane and storm surge watches will most likely be required for portions of Florida starting Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Along with the heavy rainfall, the hurricane center said to expect risks of flooding.
Residents in the area should ensure they have a hurricane plan in place, the National Hurricane Center said, follow the advice of local officials and check back for forecast updates.
