Alexander Burns and Shane Goldmacher

Several Democratic donors and party fundraisers received emails in recent days encouraging them to write sizable checks to support Biden’s planned candidacy, and to mail them to a Democratic consulting firm in Northern Virginia.

The pre-emptive push for large donations stands in sharp contrast to the effort many Democratic candidates have made to court small donors as a sign of their appeal to the party’s grassroots base. In the emails reviewed by The New York Times, Biden’s allies acknowledged he was not yet able to accept online contributions because he has not become a candidate. He is expected to announce his campaign next week.

Thomas M. McInerney, an employment litigator in San Francisco, wrote in one solicitation Wednesday that he was part of a group of Democratic donors who think Biden “would be a very strong candidate well-positioned to take on Trump.”

“We are trying to assess what kind of hard financial commitments we would have on day one, in support of his presidential candidacy,” McInerney wrote. He urged recipients to help Biden “make a splash” when he announces.

McInerney confirmed in an interview that he was supportive of Biden and had spoken with a Biden adviser about stirring early financial support for him in the Bay Area.

“He’s been, I think, a strong progressive on most if not all issues, and he would be able to take the fight to Trump,” McInerney said of Biden.

The donation drive by Biden’s allies is the latest indication that he expects to rely on the backing of some of the Democratic Party’s wealthiest contributors, many of whom have held off on donating to other contenders in anticipation of Biden’s entry.

The pursuit of big donors could be politically risky for Biden in a Democratic primary already infused with outrage about the influence of the wealthy in politics. Some of Biden’s rivals have effectively sworn off high-dollar fundraising.

A spokesman for Biden declined to comment on the fundraising activity or the timing of his entry into the race.

This article originally appeared in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/us/politics/joe-biden-2020-fundraising.html" id="ce31be1a-915a-3aff-adf8-70d9e8a4344a">The New York Times</a>.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has begun accepting financial donations for a 2020 presidential campaign, an unambiguous sign that he intends to begin his challenge to President Donald Trump within days.

Joe Biden Begins Taking Money for a 2020 Presidential Campaign

Two fundraising solicitations, circulated by Democratic donors in California and Pennsylvania, said Biden’s campaign committee would be called “Biden for President.”

The pursuit of big donors could be politically risky for Biden in a Democratic primary already infused with outrage about the influence of the wealthy in politics. Some of Biden’s rivals, including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, have effectively sworn off high-dollar fundraising altogether.

In an email to Democratic donors in the Philadelphia area this week, David Cohen, a former party operative who is now a Comcast executive, outlined plans for a major fundraising event in the city shortly after Biden’s announcement, likely in the middle of next week, and encouraged potential attendees to mail their checks to Biden’s operation even before he joins the race.

Cohen’s email suggested that potential donors should raise $14,000 each, in increments of $2,800, the maximum contribution allowed, and listed a number of party leaders planning to support Biden, including former Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania and former Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia. Plans for a Philadelphia fundraising event were first reported by the radio station WHYY.

A spokesman for Biden declined to comment on the fundraising activity or the timing of his entry into the race. Cohen did not respond to an email, but a spokeswoman for Comcast said he declined to comment.

Stephen A. Cozen, a Philadelphia-based lawyer and a longtime friend of Biden, confirmed he was helping organize the Philadelphia-based event next week, laying the groundwork for what Biden’s backers hope will be a significant financial show of force.

“You can actually start raising money,” Cozen said, adding that they hoped but were not certain that Biden would attend the fundraising gathering.

Both McInerney and Cohen assured donors in their emails that their checks would be returned if Biden did not join the presidential race.

Cozen, however, said he had no doubt of Biden’s plans.

“He’s going to run,” Cozen said.

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Alexander Burns and Shane Goldmacher

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Joe Biden Begins Taking Money for a 2020 Presidential Campaign

Joe Biden Begins Taking Money for a 2020 Presidential Campaign