Biden raises $21.5M in second quarter

Former Vice President Joe Biden brought in a $21.5 million haul during the second quarter, his campaign announced Wednesday.

The Biden campaign reported that 97 percent of contributions came from grass-roots donors, and 256,000 donors made more than 436,000 donations. The average donation to the campaign was $49, his campaign said. 

{mosads}Biden’s team also reported that the campaign did not receive lobbyist, PAC or fossil fuel donations.

While Biden’s campaign touted that he raised more money per day during the second quarter than any other campaign, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg topped Biden’s overall fundraising total, bringing in nearly $25 million in the second quarter. 

The Buttigieg campaign said that more than 400,000 donors contributed to his presidential bid, with the average contribution at $47.42. The South Bend mayor and Biden both officially launched their presidential campaigns in April.

Buttigieg’s fundraising haul is welcome news for the mayor, who until months ago was relatively unknown on the national stage, bringing in only $7 million during the first fundraising quarter. 

Biden’s campaign announced their figures as the former vice president seeks to shore up support in the crowded primary field and maintain his position atop national polls following a bruising performance in the first Democratic debates last week.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has slipped in polls following the first debate, raising questions about his prospects in the race. Three polls released after last week’s debate found Sanders trailing Biden and Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

On the money front, Sanders also trails Buttigieg and Biden in the latest fundraising period, bringing in $18 million in the second quarter.

Sanders campaign officials have emphasized that the senator has avoided high-dollar fundraisers, and has not explicitly courted big donors or Democratic bundlers. 

Buttigieg and Biden both attended fundraising events in the days after last week’s Democratic debate.