Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) is fundraising off the news that former Vice President Joe Biden took in more money in 24 hours than her campaign did in the first quarter of 2019.
After months of public mulling over the decision, Biden officially entered the gigantic 2020 Democratic field on Thursday. His campaign announced Friday it had hauled in $6.3 million from more than 96,000 different donors in 24 hours.
Warren, who publicly swore off big-money fundraisers and dialing up wealthy donors, only raised $6 million in Q1 of 2019, and she burned through 85 percent of what she raised due to her extensively staffed campaign operation.
Warren's team screenshotted Politico reporter Natasha Korecki's email with the news that Biden had outraised her. It rapped Biden over his attending a fundraiser Thursday at the home of Comcast executive David Cohen.
New: @JoeBiden campaign tells supporters 96,926 people donated to his campaign in the first 24 hours for a total $6.3 million raised in first day.
— Natasha Korecki (@natashakorecki) April 26, 2019
That’s more than @ewarren raised in all of Q1
— Natasha Korecki (@natashakorecki) April 26, 2019
"We don’t have to match other candidates dollar for dollar, but with 20 people in the race, we do need to do everything we can to keep up," Warren's campaign said. "How did Joe Biden raise so much money in one day? Well, it helps that he hosted a swanky private fundraiser for wealthy donors at the home of the guy who runs Comcast's lobbying shop."
"But as more candidates jump into the race and scoop up huge checks, your support is even more critical. We can’t risk being left in the dust," the campaign added, before asking for more donations.
It's the second shot at Biden by Warren in his as many days. Harkening back to when the two were bitter opponents over a bankruptcy bill in the 2000s, Warren accused her primary opponent Thursday of being "on the side of credit card companies."
Biden is leading in early surveys thanks to his name recognition and popularity within the party, while Warren has struggled to make gains in polling as she offers numerous, progressive policy proposals.