Biden looks for donors while considering a presidential candidacy

Former Vice President Joe BidenJoseph (Joe) Robinette BidenSanders denounces Trump's "danger" during Brooklyn Speech launch campaign CPAC participants say Biden is the biggest threat to Trump Bloomberg. is trying to get donors to engage in his presidential campaign before launching a much-needed offer in the coming weeks.

Sources close to Biden expect him to participate in the race, but they say he is trying to organize his fundraising to try to get off to a good start.

"It's a priority," said a Biden ally, who is familiar with the former vice president's planning. "If you do not have a good second quarter showing that this could be problematic."

Biden has toured the past few weeks, calling donor after donor to win his support.

The former vice president has a speech: he explains how he intends to win a competitive Democratic party before beating President TrumpDonald John TrumpLawmakers discussed possible talks with Cohen: bring 5 things to remember as Republicans tighten up at CPAC Donald Trump puts former presidents to shame of North Korean policies MORE in the 2020 general election. Biden talks about the interim period and explains how he was the only substitute for candidates to campaign in the blue and red states.

Allies say the arguments for Biden are important because fundraising was a weakness for the former vice president.

They say asking for checks does not happen naturally in Biden, and they fear they will not be able to compete with rivals like Sen. Bernie SandersBernard (Bernie) SandersSanders denounces Trump's "dangerous" statement during Brooklyn speech campaign Ocasio-Cortez becomes GOP's new enemy in a conservative debate How to bridge the income gap in America MORE (I-Vt.), Who raised $ 10 million in less than a week after joining the race.

"This has never really been his thing," said one of the Democratic Party's leading fundraisers, adding that Biden had never had to raise funds during his years of Senator. "And the truth is that it has never been very good."

Mr. Biden never had to check big checks when he was a senator, as the purchase of commercials in Delaware is relatively cheap compared to other markets, according to his supporters. Partly because of this, some of his peers do not benefit from the dollar network.

"There was an Obama circle, a Clinton circle, even a Schumer circle, but the man has been on the scene for 40 years and I can not think of a Biden circle, at the national level," said one another prominent Democratic donor, explaining the vast web of check writers surrounding Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama: focus on national service can unify our divided country CPAC participants believe that Mr. Biden is the biggest threat to Trump, the inheritance of the Bush chain MSNBC family: erased from conservative history at CPAC PLUS, Bill and Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham Clinton5 points to remember as Republicans get closer to CPAC Infanticide question awaits Democratic candidate in 2020 9 best moments of Trump's two-hour speech delivered by CPAC PLUS and leader of the Senate minority Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerSchumer asks Trump to apologize to the parents of Otto Warmbier, a Coast Guard official accused of terrorist conspiracy charged with drugs and drugs. Brennan retaliates against Harry Reid's "selfish" critique (D-N.Y.).

When Biden ran for president in the 2008 round, he had raised $ 11.3 million, but that total was well below his $ 20 million goal of competing in the early states.

He raised less money than Clinton and Obama and pulled out of the race after receiving 1% of the Iowa caucus votes.

But after eight years as vice president, Biden has become a more formidable opponent in 2020.

He has a ton of appeal as a surrogate who is welcome in the blue and red states. In addition, he can now leverage some of Obama's donor networks at a time when many of them feel nostalgic for the Obama years.

The former vice president has also become accustomed to working with the crowd at fundraisers, according to some donors.

Last fall, Biden "enlightened the crowd," as one donor said, when he participated in an intimate fundraiser in Los Angeles, co-hosted by Hollywood heavyweight Jeffrey Katzenberg and other Democratic backers.

Biden ended up raising $ 100,000 for his American Opportunities CAP, which helped the candidates in the mid-term.

"He was very impressive," recalls a fundraiser in the room.

Last year, during the mid-term election cycle, Biden presented a series of fundraising activities aimed at the campaigns of all Sen residents. Sherrod BrownSherrod Campbell BrownSanders asked if he would seek advice from Clinton: "I think no" Dem introduced a bill to repel the Ohio presidential election as part of a UAW primary prosecutor GM to block the closure of factories MORE (D-Ohio), who could himself run for the White House, and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.).

When he enters the race, Biden will be the leader in an increasingly populous field and he will have a staff in place, as reported by The Hill this week.

But the allies recognize that he is facing fundraising problems.

Sanders and others will be fierce competitors and many of Biden's rivals have a head start. Although we are still at the beginning of the cycle, some donors – even those who were formerly fundraisers and Obama donors – are already committed to the candidates.

Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisSanders denounces Trump's "dangerous" threat during Brooklyn speech launch campaign CPAC participants say Biden is the biggest threat to Trump Calif. (Calif.), Which caught the eye of some fundraisers, raised $ 1.5 million in its first 24 hours. Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy Jean KlobucharKlobuchar says she "will do better" after reports of mistreatment on the part of staff, Sanders asking him if he would ask Clinton's advice: "I do not think so" Sanders: "C & Is a bit strange "to stand against" half the caucus "of the Senate Dems PLUS (Minnesota) raised $ 1 million in its first 48 hours.

Sanders raised $ 10 million from about 360,000 donors with an average contribution of about $ 30.

"Sanders and Biden are both seventy, but the age of their supporters is the difference between money and gold," said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon. "Sanders' fans may not be rich, but they are young, passionate and addicted to social media, which allows Bernie to easily leverage their PayPal or ActBlue online accounts."

"Biden's fans have more money, but they're not as passionate or accessible on social media," said Bannon. "Biden needs to rely on fundraisers and big donors who are suspicious in the minds of basic primary voters who hate big pennies in politics."

At an event held this week at the University of Delaware, Biden said that he would not be part of a "super PAC." But super PACs, which can receive unlimited contributions from donors, are distinct campaigns.

And long-time advisers are confident he will be able to secure large and modest donations.

"People are connecting with him and I suspect that there will be a wave of support when he decides to run," said the counselor.