The Democratic National Committee says it’s investing $15 million in 7 swing state parties
WASHINGTON — Democrats Try to Offer Political Counterprogramming the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where $15 million was announced to fund campaign activities in seven key swing states, while some in the party have insisted President Joe Biden to withdraw from Elections in November.
The Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday that it is investing $15 million in state parties, intended to help them open more field offices and bolster staffing. The funding will allow them to add to the 217 existing coordinated campaign offices working collectively for Biden’s reelection bid and state parties that already employ more than 1,100 staffers in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the DNC said.
The investments will pump nearly $3 million into Wisconsin; nearly $2 million into Pennsylvania, Michigan and Nevada; nearly $1.5 million into Arizona; more than $1.2 million into North Carolina; and more than $1 million into Georgia.
The release was planned before the former president Donald Trump was wounded in an attempted assassination at his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, prompting Biden and his campaign to temporarily shift their reelection strategy. Trump is still attending his party’s convention and will accept the party’s nomination on Thursday.
The Trump campaign has opened field offices in recent weeks, including ones targeting key constituencies, in partnership with the Republican National Committee.
“We have paid staff and volunteer-driven field programs in every state approaching the crunch, and they’re expanding daily,” said Karoline Leavitt, a Trump campaign spokeswoman. “Our aggressive and experienced operation is focused on turning out votes and highlighting the contrast” between Trump and Biden.
The DNC has argued for months that its growing operation on the ground and that of the Biden campaign could sway what is expected to be a close election. Still, top Democrats are trying to navigate questions from within their own party that persist over whether Biden can stay re-elected in the weeks since his debate debacle and despite the changing dynamics of the race after Trump was injured last week.
Biden and his team have been furiously trying to reassure nervous lawmakers and donors, as well as skeptical voters, that the Democratic president, at 81, can still win in November and run for a second four-year term. Nearly two dozen Democratic lawmakers have nonetheless publicly called on Biden to step aside.
According to the DNC, the investments will fund new offices and help state parties obtain more accurate data and better coordinate party efforts for grassroots elections.
“Democrats are leaving nothing to chance and are investing heavily on the ground to ensure Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win this election,” Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said in a statement. “This election was going to be close no matter what, and regardless of the Beltway media narrative, the entire election will hinge on the operation and turnout in the swing states.”
Arizona Democratic Party Chair Yolanda Bejarano said state officials and the Biden campaign opened a 15th coordinated campaign office in Arizona over the weekend, adding that “this election is going to be won on the front door, talking to people about the issues that matter to them.”
“This is perfect timing from my perspective,” Bejarano said of the DNC investment. “We need the resources to do the work, to hire organizers, to hold town halls across the state, to get the message out through media buys.”
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