Trump trial: Campaign says verdict helps fundraising. Polls suggest jury decision a wash
In the wake of Donald Trump's conviction, the campaign to control the narrative within the context of the 2024 presidential election has begun.
On Friday, Trump's campaign said it had raised "a record shattering small dollar fundraising haul" of $34.8 million since the jury's verdict was revealed. The campaign said the total almost doubled the previous single-day sum.
"President Trump and our campaign are immensely grateful from this outpouring of support from patriots across our country," wrote campaign senior officials Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles in a statement. "President Trump is fighting to save our nation and November 5th is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict."
Randy Ross, a Trump fundraiser who's based in Central Florida, said the online donation site they use was overloaded and he was swamped with phone calls, emails and text messages from people expressing support.
"If I told you I didn’t shed a tear of sadness and frustration yesterday that would be a lie, but that lasted briefly," Ross acknowledged. "It then lit a fire and ignited my, and in so many of our grassroots organizers, desire to work harder than ever to get Trump elected."
Speaking in Trump Tower in New York, Trump on Friday again railed against the case, the judge and prosecutors. He chided New York district attorney Alvin Bragg for being negligent in a machete attack at a McDonald's.
"I'm the leading person for president and I am under a gag order by a man who can't put two sentences together," Trump said of President Joe Biden. "Given by a court and they are in total conjunction with the White House and [Department of Justice] just so you understand. This is all done by Biden and his people, and maybe his people more important. I don't know if Biden knows much about it. Because I don't know if he knows about anything."
The Biden campaign refuted Trump's claims saying his speech was "unhinged" and proof he is not fit for the presidency.
“America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States," wrote Michael Tyler, Biden-Harris 2024 communications director, in a statement. "Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution. He thinks this election is about him. But it’s not. It’s about the American people: lowering their costs, protecting their freedoms, defending their democracy."
Speaking at the White House, Biden defended the U.S. judicial system
"It's reckless, it's dangerous and it's responsible for anyone to say this was rigged simply because they don't like the verdict," the president said. "Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and it's literally the cornerstone of America, our justice system. The justice system should be respected and we should never allow anyone to tear it down."
Like the Trump campaign, the Biden camp also put out a fundraising ask following the verdict but has not reported results.
The impact on the White House race is still an unknown.
A YouGov poll released Thursday morning showed 27% of those surveyed after the verdict said they are "less likely" to vote for Trump while 26% said they are now "more likely" to cast a ballot for him. The plurality, 39%, said their position was unchanged by the jury's decision and 8% were uncertain.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump trial: Verdict helps fundraising. YouGov poll points to wash.