President Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic and inability to keep up with Joe Biden's fundraising efforts soured his reelection, reports Politico, which spoke with 75 people in and around Trump and Biden's campaign regarding the 2020 election.
According to the news outlet, Trump, when told by former campaign manager Brad Parscale in mid-February the coronavirus could cost him reelection, responded: "This f***ing virus, what does it have to do with me getting reelected?"
The president was also warned his tone on COVID-19 and mail-in ballots also spoiled his polling numbers this summer.
"The president's overall numbers are down significantly across the board, hitting the lowest point in many months on a number of core measures," Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio wrote in a 79-page memo to White House and campaign officials July 21.
"There is still a massive disconnect between what the public thinks POTUS is focused on — the economy," Fabrizio wrote, "and what they want him to focus on — fighting coronavirus."
Trump's campaign team also failed to keep up with Biden's fundraising efforts, with the Democratic challenger raising $1 billion overall, more than any other candidate in U.S. history. Trump's reelection committee hauled in $596 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign watchdog organization.
The advantage allowed Biden to outspend Trump down the stretch – his team flooded the airwaves and social media with key advertising in key battleground states in the final days of the campaign.
Politico said senior campaign and GOP officials complained Trump's finance team, led by Donald Trump Jr. and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle, underperformed. A pro-Trump super PAC also took months longer to materialize.
Several news outlets have called the presidential race for Biden, but Newsmax is holding off until all ballots are counted.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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