(Washington) A fundraising event to be held Thursday evening in New York for President Joe Biden, and also attended by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, raised an impressive sum of 25 million US dollars, setting the record for the most big collection for a political event, according to Joe Biden’s campaign.
This impressive sum is a major demonstration of Democrats’ support for Mr. Biden, at a time when polls are increasingly disappointing for him. The president will test the power of campaign money by taking on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has already proven with his 2016 victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton that he doesn’t need collect the most money to capture the presidency.
The event at Radio City Music Hall will represent a golden exclamation point on a recent explosion of presidential campaign travel. Mr. Biden has visited several political battlegrounds in the three weeks since his State of the Union address, which served as a rallying cry for his re-election bid. The event will also bring together more than three decades of Democratic leaders.
The event, which will last one hour, offers different levels of access depending on the generosity of donors. The centerpiece is an onstage conversation with the three presidents, hosted by late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert. There will also be a series of musical artists ― Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele ― which will be hosted by actress Mindy Kaling. Thousands of people are expected and tickets cost only US$225.
The higher the contribution, the more intimate moments donors can spend with presidents. A photo with all three presidents costs US$100,000. A donation of US$250,000 grants access to a reception, and a donation of US$500,000 grants access to an even more exclusive meeting.
“But the party doesn’t stop there, according to the campaign. First lady Jill Biden and DJ D-Nice host an afterparty at Radio City Music Hall with 500 guests. »
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are helping Joe Biden increase his already considerable financial advantage over Donald Trump. At the end of February, Mr. Biden had US$155 million in cash, compared to US$37 million for Mr. Trump and his “Save America” political action committee.
The $25 million raised for Thursday’s event in New York includes contributions from fans who donated money in the weeks leading up to the event for a chance to attend. This is a collection of 5 million US dollars more than that achieved by Mr. Trump during the month of February.
In recent weeks, Mr. Trump has kept a low profile, in part due to his appearances in court in various legal cases, the bills for which he pays with funds from donors. He is also expected to be in the area Thursday, to attend the wake on Long Island for a New York police officer shot and killed during a traffic stop in Queens.
His next political rally is scheduled for Tuesday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Some Republican leaders worry that his campaign lacks the infrastructure to take on Mr. Biden in the general election.
Mr. Obama’s presence this Thursday is a reminder of the role he played in promoting Mr. Biden’s re-election. A joint fundraiser for MM. Biden and Obama raised nearly US$3 million in December. People who worked in the Obama administration are also raising money for Mr. Biden, hosting their own event on April 11.
“Think about what you are going to give during this cycle and do it now,” reads an email sent to a network of people. Money raised in advance is much more valuable to the campaign. »
reference: www.lapresse.ca