Trump leads Biden in large donations in Michigan
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Former President Trump is raising more from big-money donors for his 2024 campaign in Michigan than President Biden.
Why it matters: With Biden and Trump each clinching their party's nominations in last month's presidential primaries, Michiganders are another step closer to the rematch we've all been expecting.
- Michigan is an important swing state that the Trump campaign is dedicating serious resources to winning back after Biden flipped it blue in 2020.
The intrigue: While the former president had a five-month head start, Trump's campaign has received double the amount ($1.9 million) that Biden has from large donors ($974,000) in Michigan.
Catch up quick: While Biden has decisively swept Democratic primaries across the country, he faces an unusual contender: the "uncommitted" vote.
- The movement came after more than 100,000 Michigan Democratic primary voters in February cast ballots for "uncommitted" in protest of the Biden administration's support of Israel's government in the war in Gaza.
State of play: The already neck-and-neck race will likely end up feeling like one long marathon by the time November rolls around. State Democrats adjourned the Legislature early last year to give Michigan an early primary date.
- Those pushing for it mentioned how early primaries typically attract greater attention and high-profile campaign visits, but that didn't happen with an incumbent president and a popular Republican candidate.
What we're watching: The uncommitted movement's existence remains an alarm to the Biden campaign about how the war in Gaza may be hurting him with some supporters.
- Local Democrats aren't sold that the 100,000 voters who cast uncommitted ballots will actually impact the president's chances in November.
- Some have said now-former Republican candidate Nikki Haley's performance in Michigan (28%) could signal trouble for Trump's chances here.