Big-time Haley donors switch to backing Biden – not Trump

The Biden campaign has been attempting, and apparently succeeding, at recruiting donors to the now-suspended campaign of former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.

The Democratic campaign apparatus already has a significant lead over the Republicans when it comes to funding. The Biden campaign recently announced it has $155m in cash on hand and that it raised $54m in February alone, while former President Donald Trump’s committees had $36.6m in cash on hand at the end of January, with one month less of fundraising having been reported publicly.

One of the Haley backers who have been pulled over to the Biden side is Harry Sloan, a former MGM executive. He got a call from Jeffrey Katzenberg, a media proprietor and former chair of Walt Disney Studios, about helping Mr Biden win the 2024 election.

“People I know who are generally business Republicans, they’re going to hear from me,” Mr Sloan told CNBC about fundraising for Mr Biden.

Mr Sloan is one of several former Haley bundlers – top campaign fundraisers – who have joined the Biden cause instead of boosting the Trump campaign, the outlet reported.

Mr Katzenberg is a co-chair of the Biden campaign who has pushed Haley donors to join Mr Biden since at least February.

Mr Sloan and other Haley backers have also been in touch with Biden campaign finance chair Rufus Gifford, a former State Department official who said he’s part of a WhatsApp group entitled “Haley Supporters for Biden,” according to CNBC.

Mr Sloan raised $550,000 for the Haley campaign, but last year he also sent $100,000 to a pro-Biden political committee and made a donation directly to the Biden campaign. He has also donated to Republican Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dave McCormick.

Former Virginia