President Joe Biden will receive support from his Democratic predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on Thursday at a fundraising event in New York that is expected to raise more than $25 million (more than 23 million euros) and to build momentum for Joe Biden's 2024 re-election campaign. Biden and the two former commanders in chief will participate in a discussion moderated by Late Show host Stephen Colbert at Radio City Music Hall in front of thousands of guests, in what Biden's re-election campaign called the most successful political fundraiser in history. Musicians Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele will perform, and some of the wealthiest guests will have their photos taken with the three presidents by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz.
Biden, 81, has faced concerns about his age and ability to run for a second four-year term. Recent Reuters/Ipsos polls show his approval rating at 40% and a tight race with his Republican opponent Donald Trump, 77, ahead of the November 5 election.
Concerns about a possible Trump victory
Tickets for Thursday's event cost between $250 and $500,000, according to a Democrat familiar with the event. More than 5000 people are expected. The event will not be broadcast on television, but the campaign plans to broadcast content on social networks. Small donors can pay $25 to participate in a virtual event with the three men.
Since his fiery State of the Union address earlier this month, Biden has visited all the major states, but he has mostly spoken to much smaller crowds, as part of a deliberate strategy to emphasize interactions with everyday Americans. Vice President Kamala Harris also traveled the country.
Support from Obama, who still enjoys great popularity among Democrats, could boost enthusiasm among some young voters and other progressives who voted for Biden in 2020 but are angered by his unwavering support for Israel in his response to the Hamas attacks of October 7.
“The numbers don't lie: today's event is a massive show of force and a true reflection of the reelection momentum of the Biden-Harris ticket
,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-chair of the campaign, in a statement. communicated. Joe Biden's re-election campaign raised more than $53 million in February and $10 million in the 24 hours following his March 7 speech to Congress. Biden has consistently outraised Trump's fundraising.
Obama expressed concerns to Biden about a possible Trump victory, ahead of Biden's team shakeup that sent two senior White House officials to the Wilmington, Delaware-based campaign. The former president recently spent time at the White House preparing a video marking the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which he signed into law. Biden is campaigning on his efforts to strengthen the law and accuses Republicans of wanting to end it.
Trump used Biden's event with Obama and Clinton to appeal to his own supporters.
“The Obama-Clinton cartel thinks it will beat us tomorrow, but I have something they will NEVER have,”
he said in a fundraising appeal Wednesday, referring to his supporters.