Joe Biden lost a prominent financial supporter of his 2020 presidential campaign after the former Vice President made controversial comments.
The campaign’s top fundraiser, Tom McInerney, contacted the Biden campaign on June 20 and let them know he would no longer help the team raise campaign funds for 2020 after positive comments on segregationists and indecisiveness on abortion rights, CNBC reports.
“I had actually let the campaign known I’d pulled back my support of Biden for now,” Mr McInerney said.
Mr McInerney continued, saying: “I don’t think he did well last night,” referring to the June 27 Democratic debate where the Vice President was heavily criticised by Senator Kamala Harris for his record on civil rights.
Mr Biden repeatedly supported and defended his work with segregationists, like Senator James Eastland from Mississippi, saying: “At least there was some civility. We got things done. We didn’t agree on much of anything,” at a recent fundraiser.
The vice president continued: “Today, you look at the other side and you’re the enemy.”
In response to these comments and Mr Biden’s claim that he was a vocal supporter of civil rights throughout his career, opponents have called his record on integration via busing into question.
He had also wavered on whether he would repeal the Hyde Amendment or not, which bars the use of federal funds to pay for abortion procedures if the pregnancy is not a health risk or a result of incest or rape.
Most 2020 Democrats have vowed that as president, they would remove the Hyde Amendment. Eventually, Biden decided that he too opposed the law.
Mr McInerney, a San Francisco lawyer, is the first major contributor to publicly withdraw their support from the Biden campaign. He had served a lead bundler, or super fundraiser, on the Obama campaign, helping raise at least $200,000 for the young Democrat.
“I would imagine I’m not alone,” said McInerney on wanting to separate himself from the Biden campaign.
