NEW YORK –
A fundraising event for US President Joe Biden on Thursday in New York City, also featuring Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, is raising a whopping $25 million, setting a record for the largest haul for a political event, his campaign said.
The surprising number was an important sign of Democratic support for Biden at a time of persistently low poll numbers. The president will test the power of campaign money when he faces presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who demonstrated with his 2016 victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton that he didn’t need to raise the most money to win. with the presidency.
The Radio City Music Hall event will be a golden exclamation point in a recent explosion of presidential campaign travel. Biden has visited several political battlegrounds in the three weeks since his State of the Union address served as the rallying cry for his re-election bid. The event also brings together more than three decades of Democratic leadership.
Obama hitchhiked from Washington to New York aboard Air Force One with Biden. They waved as they walked down the stairs of the plane at John F. Kennedy International Airport and boarded the motorcade for the trip to midtown Manhattan. Clinton was expected to meet them at the event.
The music hall marquee lit up and read: “An Evening with Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton.” NYPD officers lined the surrounding streets as part of a heavy security presence for the event.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was the first to rise to cheer on the sold-out crowd of about 5,000 supporters. The artists also had their moment on stage. Lizzo belted out her hit “About Damn Time” and emcee Mindy Kaling joked that it was nice to be in a room with “so many rich people,” adding that she loved that they were supporting a president who “openly” promises to “raise your taxes.”
The one-hour fundraiser has different levels of access depending on the generosity of the donor. The centerpiece is an onstage conversation with the three presidents, moderated by late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert. There is also a lineup of musical artists (Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele) who will be presented by actress Mindy Kaling. Thousands of people are expected and tickets cost only US$225.
More money allows donors to have more intimate time with presidents. A photo with the three of them costs $100,000. A donation of $250,000 grants donors access to a reception, and $500,000 grants them access to an even more exclusive meeting.
“But the party doesn’t end there,” according to the campaign. First lady Jill Biden and DJ D-Nice will host an after-party at Radio City Music Hall with 500 guests.
Obama and Clinton are helping Biden widen his already significant monetary lead over Trump. Biden had $155 million in cash on hand as of the end of February, compared to $37 million for Trump and his Save America political action committee.
The $25 million tab for the New York City event includes money from supporters who handed over cash in the weeks leading up to the fundraiser for a chance to attend. He is raising $5 million more than Trump raised during February.
“This historic increase is a sign of great enthusiasm for President Biden and Vice President Harris and a testament to the unprecedented fundraising machine we have built,” said campaign co-chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg. “Unlike our opponent, every dollar we raise will reach the voters who will decide this election, communicating the president’s historical record, his vision for the future and making clear what is at stake in this election.”
Trump’s campaign hopes to raise $33 million at a big fundraiser next week in Palm Beach, Florida, according to a person familiar with the details who spoke on condition of anonymity to confirm a figure first reported by the Financial Times. .
Trump has kept a low profile in recent weeks, in part because of his court appearances in several legal cases, the bills for which he is paying with donor funds. He was in the New York area on Thursday, attending the Long Island vigil for a New York City police officer who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Queens.
His next political rallies are scheduled for Tuesday in Michigan and Wisconsin. Some Republican leaders worry that their campaign does not have the infrastructure ready for a general election battle with Biden.
Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley issued a statement suggesting Biden does not support law enforcement or security.
“The contrast in leadership could not be clearer,” Whatley said. “On the same day President Trump attended the wake of slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, Joe Biden wines and dines with celebrities at a fundraiser with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.”
The facts, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, show that violent crime increased under Trump, while the Biden administration “has done the opposite, taking decisive action from the beginning to funding the police and achieving a historic reduction in crime. “
Leon Panetta, who held senior positions under Clinton and Obama, said the fundraiser is an important moment for Biden’s campaign.
“What it does, first and foremost, is broaden and strengthen the support of all Democrats,” he said.
Panetta said Clinton and Obama, both known as effective political communicators, could help Biden develop a better pitch for his re-election.
“I can’t think of two people who are better at crafting that kind of message,” he said.
Obama’s attendance is a reminder of his role in pushing for Biden’s re-election. A joint fundraiser with Biden and Obama raised nearly $3 million in December. And people who served in the Obama administration are also raising money for Biden and scheduling their own event on April 11.
“Consider what you will donate this cycle and do it now,” said one email sent to a network of people. “The advance money is much more valuable to the campaign.”
Megerian reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.