Biden raises over $97 million in fourth quarter, enters election year with $117 million war chest

• President Joe Biden's reelection effort raised over $97 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, new campaign filings show.
• Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' political operation began the pivotal year with $117 million cash in their campaign war chest.
• The $117 million on hand represents a massive amount of resources that could provide a crucial boost to the president's reelection.

President Joe Biden's reelection effort says it received over $97 million in contributions during the fourth quarter of 2023.

As a result, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' political operation entered a pivotal year with $117 million cash in their campaign war chest. The amount represents the sum total of four entities: Biden's campaign, his two joint fundraising committees and the Democratic National Committee.

"Across our coalition, we are seeing early, sustained support that is helping us scale our growing operation across the country and take our message to the communities that will determine this election," Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Biden's campaign manager, said in a statement.

The $117 provides the campaign with crucial resources as he president struggles in the polls. Biden's approval numbers dropped to 40% in a survey taken in November, according an NBC News survey.

Biden's campaign pointed to online fundraising as key to their strategy.

For example, a contest called "Cup of Joe," which allowed contestants the chance to meet with both Biden and Harris, helped raise over $3 million, the campaign said.

In addition to padding its bottom line, Biden's political operation also grew its email list by 15% in the fourth quarter. Those people may not be donors yet, making them ripe targets for fundraising as the campaign progresses.

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