President Joe Biden will host a big-ticket fundraiser in New York City with his two Democratic presidential predecessors, hoping to rekindle enthusiasm for his rematch with former President Donald Trump in 2024.
Actress Mindy Kaling will host the event Thursday evening at Radio City Music Hall. The program includes a discussion moderated by Stephen Colbert with Biden and former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. The event will also feature performances by Lizzo, Queen Latifah, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele.
Despite his overall declining approval ratings, Biden has maintained a significant cash advantage over Trump. Thursday's fundraiser is expected to bring in the largest fundraising total for Biden this cycle. The president had more than $150 million in cash on hand at the end of February, about $100 million more than Trump, whose fundraising is being used to offset mounting legal fees and penalties stemming from dozens of federal indictments.
Tickets for Thursday night started at $250, but an upgrade to include a photo alongside Biden, Obama and Clinton cost attendees up to $100,000. Attendees could also purchase tickets to high-profile receptions and after-parties for up to $500,000. Chris Korge, the Biden Victory Fund's finance chairman, told NBC he expects Thursday's fundraiser to attract more than 3,000 participants and raise more than $10 million.
Doubts about Biden's age, coupled with growing discontent over his approach to the Gaza conflict, have caused the president to lose support among young, black and Latino voters. But Democrats remain optimistic that appearing alongside his predecessors will help the president solidify his 2020 coalition victory ahead of November's election.
“When Joe Biden stands next to Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, you can win anything,” said Leon Panetta, a veteran of both the Obama and Clinton administrations. “This image is worth a lot in today’s politics.”
By comparison, Thursday's event will shine a light on Trump's fractured relationship with the establishment Republican Party, and Biden campaign officials told the Washington Examiner they expect Democratic unity to be a major theme of this upcoming fundraiser.
“President Obama and President Clinton strongly support President Biden's leadership and, of course, his agenda. All three overwhelmingly agreed on the issues this president has fought for over the past three years, including an economy that works for everyone and leaves no one behind. “This is an economy built from the bottom up and middle, ensuring that we protect our critical freedoms,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday ahead of Biden's trip to New York .
She continued: “These are presidents, two former presidents and the current president, who believe in what we're trying to accomplish in the Biden-Harris administration, which is that we're trying to move this country forward.” We're trying to make sure that we protect our democracy and our freedom and build an economy that leaves no one behind, and I think that is the most important thing here.”
Although their paths are unlikely to cross, Trump will also be in New York City on Thursday. He is expected to attend the memorial service for a New York police officer who was recently shot during a traffic stop in the city.
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Jean-Pierre declined to say whether Biden plans to address the NYC officer's death, but stated that “our thoughts are with this officer who tragically lost his life in the line of duty.”
“President Biden is deeply grateful for the sacrifices police officers make to keep our communities safe. “This shooting is another painful reminder of the toll of gun violence and the impact it has on families in our communities across our country,” she said. “That’s why the President has signed more than two dozen executive actions. That's why we can pass a bipartisan agreement to combat the gun violence we're seeing in this country. Clearly more work needs to be done. We need Congress to continue to ensure our communities are safe, and again, our thoughts are with this officer and his family. It’s a difficult time for them.”
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