WASHINGTON – Democrats are trying to offer political counterprogramming to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, announcing $15 million to fund campaign operations in seven key states — even as some party members asked President Joe Biden to bow November elections.
The Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday that it is investing $15 million in state parties, aiming to help them open more field offices and bolster staff. The funding will allow them to grow the existing 217 coordinated campaign offices working together for Biden’s re-election 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 inject nearly $3 million into Wisconsin; nearly $2 million each for Pennsylvania, Michigan and Nevada; nearly $1.5 million in Arizona; more than $1.2 million in North Carolina; and more than $1 million in Georgia.
The disbursement was planned before the former president donald trump being injured in an assassination attempt during his rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, prompting Biden and his campaign to temporarily change their re-election strategy. Still, Trump is attending his party’s convention and will accept his party’s nomination on Thursday.
The Trump campaign has spent recent weeks opening local offices, including those targeting key constituencies, in conjunction with the Republican National Committee.
“We have paid staff and volunteer-supported field programs in every swing state, and they are expanding daily,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. “Our aggressive and experienced operation is focused on getting votes and highlighting the contrast” between Trump and Biden.
The DNC has argued for months that its growing field operation and that of the Biden campaign could help influence an election expected to be close. Still, top Democrats are trying to overcome questions from within their own party that have persisted about whether Biden is willing to continue seeking re-election in the weeks since his election. disaster debate and despite the changing dynamics of the race after Trump was injured last weekend.
Biden and his team have tried furiously to reassure nervous lawmakers and donors, as well as skeptical voters, that at 81 years old, the Democratic president can still win in November and secure a second four-year term. Still, nearly 20 Democratic lawmakers have publicly called on Biden to step aside.
The DNC said the investments will fund new field offices and help state parties obtain more accurate data and better coordinate party efforts in election contests.
“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 Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement. “This election was always going to be close, and regardless of the media narratives, the entire election was going to come down to operating and turning out in the swing states.”
Arizona Democratic Party Chairwoman Yolanda Bejarano said state officials and the Biden campaign opened a 15th coordinated campaign office in Arizona over the weekend, adding that: “This election will be won at the doorsteps, by talking to people. about the issues that interest them. .”
“This is perfect timing from my perspective,” Bejarano said of the DNC investment. “We need resources to do the work, to hire organizers, to have town halls across the state, to get the message out through media buying.”
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