Axios: A pro-Biden dark money group is slowing down
Building Back Together — the dark money group tasked by the White House to tout President Biden’s agenda — stalled out last year, raising and spending a fraction of the amount it did in 2021, according to tax filings.
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Since Biden announced his re-election campaign in April, BBT has only announced two ad buys, both relatively small.
By the numbers: In 2022, BBT raised $8 million, compared to $41 million in 2021, according to its 990 tax forms.
Last year, it spent a total of $15 million, compared to $33 million in 2021.
BBT ended 2022 with just $1.1 million in assets.
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“With messaging on the President’s agenda so clearly failing, it’s not surprising to see the fundraising for Building Back Together plummet,” said Caitlin Sutherland, Executive Director, Americans for Public Trust, a conservative group.
Zoom out: BBT — a 501(c)(4) — was created in the early weeks of Biden’s presidency to promote his policies and defend him from GOP attacks.
It was blessed by Anita Dunn, a close Biden confidant, and worked closely with senior Democratic strategists and veterans of the Obama White House, like Stephanie Cutter.
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Between the lines: Going into 2024, Team Biden — and Democratic donors — are sending their money toward Super PACs and the DNC that are directly focused on the president’s reelection.
The Biden campaign, the DNC, and the White House-blessed outside group Future Forward have spent over $50 million on TV and digital ads so far this year.
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