Wealthy Donors Threaten to Withhold Funding from Democrats until Biden Drops Out

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
04/07/2024 23h46

In a surprising twist, President Joe Biden is facing pushback from some of his own party's wealthy donors. Abigail Disney, an heiress to the Disney family fortune, recently announced her decision to withhold donations to the Democratic Party until Biden drops out of the presidential race. Gideon Stein, the president of the Moriah Fund, also joined in, pausing $3.5 million in planned donations. This move has created a wave of uncertainty within the party as they struggle to secure crucial financial support for the upcoming election.

Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Disney Company co-founder Roy O. Disney, expressed her concerns about Biden's ability to win the race after his disastrous debate performance. Despite acknowledging Biden as a good man who has served his country admirably, she believes that the stakes are too high to continue supporting him. Disney emphasized that her decision to withhold donations is not an act of disrespect but rather a realistic assessment of the situation.

The Democratic Party has been grappling with the fallout from Biden's lackluster debate appearance, with many questioning his capability to take on former President Donald Trump and close the gap in the polls. Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas even called for Biden to withdraw from the race, citing his debate performance as proof of his inability to compete with Trump.

In the aftermath of the debate, a New York Times/Sienna College poll revealed that Biden trailed Trump by 6 percentage points among likely voters. These numbers have further fueled concerns among Democratic donors who fear that Biden's candidacy may lead to a loss in the election.

Abigail Disney, known for her long-standing support of Democrats, has contributed significantly to various causes and political action committees (PACs) affiliated with the party in the past. She donated $50,000 to the Jane Fonda Climate PAC in April and gave $150,000 to Planned Parenthood Votes in 2014. However, she now sees Vice President Kamala Harris as a strong alternative to Biden, believing that she has the potential to defeat Trump.

Gideon Stein, the president of the Moriah Fund, has echoed Disney's sentiments by deciding to pause planned donations of $3.5 million, specifically earmarked for nonprofits and political organizations aligned with the presidential race. Stein emphasized the need for a new candidate in order to effectively challenge Trump in the election.

Karla Jurvetson, a major Democratic donor and philanthropist, has also indicated her agreement with the notion of pausing donations until Biden steps down. While no formal announcement has been made, her involvement would significantly impact fundraising efforts for the Democratic Party.

The Biden campaign has yet to respond to these growing concerns from wealthy donors within their own party. With influential figures like Abigail Disney, Gideon Stein, and potentially Karla Jurvetson halting their financial support, the Democratic Party is now faced with the challenge of appeasing their frustrated contributors while navigating a crucial election season.

It remains to be seen how these developments will impact the fundraising efforts and overall strategy of the Democrats moving forward. As the campaign progresses, the party will need to find ways to unite its supporters and address the mounting concerns surrounding Biden's candidacy in order to secure a victory in the upcoming election.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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