President Joe Biden is joining forces with two of his Democratic predecessors, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, to boost support for his reelection campaign. A highly-anticipated star-studded fundraiser is set to take place on Thursday night in New York City.
The campaign anticipates that the evening will generate over $25 million, a remarkable amount for a single event. Biden, Obama, and Clinton will kick off the event with a virtual pre-program, which will be hosted by Biden’s campaign manager.
Actress Mindy Kaling will take on the role of host for the program, which will be held inside Radio City Music Hall. The event will showcase exceptional musical performances by Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, and Lea Michele. These talented artists will captivate a sold-out audience of 5,000 individuals. To provide an inclusive experience, the campaign has sent out fundraising emails to supporters, offering them the opportunity to tune in virtually by making a donation.
Jill Biden, the First Lady, will commence the evening of performances that culminate in the main event: a relaxed conversation on armchairs with Biden, Obama, and Clinton. The conversation will be moderated by the witty late-night comedian, Stephen Colbert.
The tickets for the event were priced between $225 and $500,000, making it potentially the most profitable event ever for Democrats.
According to a statement by Biden-Harris spokesperson Kevin Munoz, Democrats are fully united and enthusiastic about President Biden’s reelection campaign. This unity and energy will be showcased in New York City on Thursday. Munoz also took the opportunity to criticize Donald Trump, highlighting his financial and energy constraints, as well as challenges such as skepticism from GOP primary voters and criticism from his former vice president, Mike Pence.
As part of a significant effort to showcase the president’s fundraising prowess, the campaign is organizing a fundraiser to gather a substantial amount of money before the Federal Election Commission deadline at the end of the month. In February, the campaign, along with the Democratic National Committee and their joint fundraising committees, reported raising an impressive $53 million.
Biden and Obama arrived together in New York City on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the event. This comes at a time when Biden is facing protests during his campaign due to his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. In fact, a rally at a Virginia theater in January experienced at least 14 disruptions.
According to the campaign, Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, played a key role in organizing the event on Thursday. She was joined by Jeffrey Katzenberg, a movie mogul and co-chair of the Biden campaign, Rufus Gifford, the campaign finance chair, and Chris Korge, the finance chair of the Biden Victory Fund.
Select guests will have the chance to get their portrait captured with the three presidents by the renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. Additionally, there will be a virtual discussion with the three presidents and campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez, followed by an after-party hosted by the first lady. The after-party will showcase DJ D-Nice’s talent.
The star-studded evening is taking place as Biden intensifies his campaign efforts for the upcoming general election, with only seven months remaining. Following his State of the Union address, Biden has been traveling extensively across the country, visiting crucial battleground states as part of the campaign’s “month of action.”
During a recent visit to the White House, Obama collaborated with Biden to create videos commemorating the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and to support future fundraising efforts. As part of the campaign, the former president has already appeared in two digital ads, with more recordings prepared for release in the near future.
Former President Obama has already proven to be a valuable asset, maintaining popularity among the Democratic base.
Grassroots fundraising efforts, which include content signed by or featuring Obama, have successfully raised over $15.4 million for Biden’s reelection campaign this cycle. The campaign highlights a particular event called “Meet the Presidents,” held in December, where Obama and Biden came together, resulting in a remarkable $3 million raised.
The Thursday fundraiser marks a significant milestone as it brings together Biden and Obama for their first joint public campaign event. With the former president’s involvement, the campaign is set to witness major fundraising events and nationwide travel, all aimed at supporting Biden in his journey towards November.
According to Obama senior adviser Eric Schultz, President Obama is fully committed to supporting President Biden’s reelection in light of the significance of this election. Schultz stated that Obama is eager to assist Democrats at all levels in persuading voters during the upcoming fall season. The strategy will prioritize making a tangible impact, particularly by leveraging Obama’s influence to drive meaningful change.
Trump, on the other hand, is capitalizing on the event to raise funds. He has been sending out multiple emails with the subject line, “Obama is back!”, while the Biden event was being organized.
“I have something even better,” he declared passionately in a pitch last month. “I have you, along with millions of patriotic Americans who share the same vision of making America great again!”
According to Katzenberg, Thursday’s event is a testament to the incredible fundraising machine they have built.
“We are ensuring that every dollar we raise reaches the voters who hold the power to decide this election,” he stated. “Our goal is to effectively communicate the President’s extraordinary achievements, his vision for the future, and the critical importance of this election. The numbers speak for themselves: today’s event is a powerful demonstration of our strength and the growing momentum behind the Biden-Harris ticket.”
