Clinton, Obama join Biden for big fund-raiser
In a show of force his campaign is calling the “most successful political fund-raiser in American history,” President biden was slated to raise more than $25 million during a new York event thursday featuring former presidents barack Obama and bill Clinton.
More than 5,000 people were expected to attend the sold-out event at new York’s Radio City music Hall, biden’s campaign said, with guests paying anywhere from $225 to $500,000. the massive haul comes as biden and his allies have sought to present their growing financial advantage in the race against former president Donald trump as a broader sign of strength and momentum.
The highest-paying donors at the event will have access to perks such as a photo with the three presidents. legendary photographer Annie leibovitz is on tap to take portraits of donors with biden, Clinton, and Obama.
The event caps a stepped-up stretch of campaign activity for biden in the wake of his fiery march 7 State of the Union address, and it is the latest push by the president’s allies to counter concerns about his advanced age and sagging approval ratings. biden is 81 and trump is 77.
If Democratic voters at large are wary of biden’s political standing, the star-studded event in new York was designed to offer a joyous counterpoint to the sense of angst. It was to feature musical guests including Queen latifah, lizzo, and ben Platt. mindy Kaling served as host. An after-party for 500 VIP guests was co-hosted by first lady Jill biden and DJ D-nice.
For the evening’s main event, comedian Stephen Colbert was slated to moderate a conversation among biden, Obama, and Clinton.
The Biden campaign has begun relying more on Obama to boost its Fund-raising in recent months, after the former president came to the White House last year to express concerns about the state of the race. In a private lunch with biden, Obama urged biden to bolster his campaign apparatus and move more aggressively to block trump’s planned march to the White House.
Biden officials said fund-raising efforts that feature Obama or his signature have already generated $15.4 million for Democrats. Obama participated in a “meet the Presidents” fundraising drive in December that brought in nearly $3 million, they said.
Biden has also used Obama as a sounding board, as both men see blocking trump’s return to the White House as key to securing their own political legacies.