Obama, Clinton Help Biden Raise $25M at New York Fundraiser
Former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama joined their Democratic successor, Pres. Joe Biden, at a campaign fundraiser in New York on Thursday, which reportedly raised more than $25M for Biden's re-election campaign....
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Facts
- Former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama joined their Democratic successor, Pres. Joe Biden, at a campaign fundraiser in New York on Thursday, which reportedly raised more than $25M for Biden's re-election campaign.1
- The fundraiser, hosted by actress Mindy Kaling, took place at Radio City Music Hall. First Lady Jill Biden delivered remarks during the event, which featured performances by musical guests, including Queen Latifah and Lea Michele.2
- Obama commended Biden, stating, '[t]hat's the kind of president I want,' while Clinton asked voters to '[s]tay with what works.'3
- The tickets were reportedly priced between $225 and $500K, while guests paid $100K to have a photo taken with the three presidents by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz.4
- At the end of February, Biden had $155M in cash on hand, compared with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donal Trump's $37M, backed by the Save America political action committee.5
- Though Trump's campaign admits that Biden will still have a financial advantage, Trump is reportedly planning a South Florida fundraiser next week that it is speculated could raise up to $33M, closing the gap.6
Sources: 1US News & World Report, 2CBS, 3Voice of America, 4BBC News, 5Associated Press and 6New York Post.
Narratives
- Democratic narrative, as provided by Washington Post. Momentum is swinging the Biden campaign's direction, and the Democratic incumbent has all hands on deck as he is ramping up his re-election bid. Presidents Clinton and Obama both soared to victory twice and will look to bring that same magic to Pres. Biden. Thursday's fundraiser is a sign of power and strength for the Biden-Harris campaign, which already has a major cash advantage over Donald Trump. Big-time donors and celebrities aren't abandoning the president, and the Democrats' organization and infrastructural advantage will lead Biden to victory in November.
- Republican narrative, as provided by Daily Caller. While Biden was in New York for an elaborate fundraiser, Donald Trump visited the state to attend the funeral of a fallen police officer. While the elite class believes that money is all that matters in electoral politics, Trump is showing that grassroots support is far more important. It's no surprise that out-of-touch celebrities and wealthy elites are going all out for Biden. Meanwhile, Trump has made the GOP into the party for the working-class. No amount of money could buy Biden the support and enthusiasm that the nation has for Trump.
