Democratic Donors Reluctant to Fund Biden Presidential Library

President Joe Biden is encountering significant challenges in fundraising for his presidential library, with many longtime Democratic donors and bundlers reluctant to contribute or only willing to offer nominal amounts. Some donors expressed frustration over past fundraising efforts, including one who demanded a refund for funds raised that were redirected to Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign. While donors generally do not hold personal grudges against Biden, they cited reasons such as unpleasant interactions with his inner circle, a desire to preserve resources for future party needs, and concerns about becoming targets of the White House. Biden also faces lingering resentment within the party over his decision to run for a second term despite health concerns, which culminated in a late exit from the nomination process after displaying mental frailties during a televised debate. Rufus Gifford, a veteran fundraiser, has been named chairman of the library's fundraising effort, but the project still aims to raise between $200 million and $300 million amid these hurdles. Overall, the fundraising difficulties reflect broader party dissatisfaction and doubts about the viability of Biden’s post-presidential legacy projects.