Biden Supporters: No Problem Fundraising if VP Decides to Jump in the 2016 Presidential Race
Political insiders say that Vice President Joe Biden would not have a problem raising significant funds in order to compete in the 2016 presidential election if he decides to enter into the race.
Earlier this year, the vice president stated that he would make a decision about jumping in the race by the end of the summer. In the meantime, top donors who have contributed to both of President Obama's national campaigns have been preparing for Biden's potential run.
Jon Cooper, an Obama bundler who is now the finance chairman of the Draft Biden Committee 2016 super PAC, says he has received an outpouring of phone calls and interest in the last few weeks. He has also galvanized a national finance team of bundlers and donors on each coast in the country.
"Based on the surge in support that we've seen, we fully expect to raise between $2.5 million and $3 million over the next few weeks," Cooper told the Washington Examiner. "That's going to provide the resources necessary to build the infrastructure that Vice President Biden will need to hit the ground running and finance a race."
Meanwhile, other fundraisers have committed to make donations if and when Biden decides to place his bid in the race. According to Cooper, many of the donors are former Obama bundlers.
"He's going to have no problem raising enough money to run a very competitive campaign, a vibrant campaign," Cooper said. "When you factor in Joe's strength, authenticity and honesty - that he is humble, likable and straight-shooting, along with his vast experience in public service, more than 43 years, I think that's going to really resonate with voters."
Cooper went on to say that it won't be necessary for the vice president to raise as much money as Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. Instead, he just needs enough to stay afloat.
"I don't think he's going to have to match her dollar-to-dollar in the campaign even though he'll come close because he has all these natural strengths," Cooper added.
"Biden can drop a website up in the air and be able to raise money," said an operative. "It won't be as much as Hillary, but it will be significant enough to make him competitive."
Likewise, Paula Levine, a Democratic fundraiser who worked as Biden's New York finance director in 2008, said, "People are calling me and people are emailing me, and there's a lot of positive reinforcement. I had a big donor email me with the subject line: 'Will you tell Joe Biden to run?'"
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