President Joe Biden is joining forces with two fellow Democratic leaders, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, in an effort to bolster support for his reelection campaign. The trio will be headlining a highly-anticipated fundraising event in New York City on Thursday night, where they will undoubtedly inspire and rally supporters from all walks of life.
Actress Mindy Kaling will be taking on the role of host for the program, which will be held inside the iconic Radio City Music Hall. The star-studded event will feature performances by renowned musicians Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, and Lea Michele. All of this will unfold in front of a packed house of 5,000 enthusiastic attendees. To ensure that as many people as possible can be a part of this exciting night, the campaign has also sent out fundraising emails to supporters, giving them the opportunity to tune in virtually by making a donation.
The evening of performances will be initiated by First lady Jill Biden, leading up to the main event: an armchair conversation with Biden, Obama, and Clinton. The conversation will be moderated by late-night comedian Stephen Colbert.
Tickets for the event were priced between $225 and $500,000, making it potentially the most profitable event in Democratic history.
According to Kevin Munoz, the spokesperson for Biden-Harris, Democrats are fully united and enthusiastic about President Biden’s campaign for reelection. Munoz also took the opportunity to criticize Donald Trump, highlighting his financial and energy limitations, as well as the challenges he faces, such as the reluctance of some GOP primary voters and criticism from his former vice president, Mike Pence.
As part of a significant effort to demonstrate the president’s fundraising prowess, the campaign is organizing a fundraiser to raise 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, managed to raise an impressive $53 million.
Biden and Obama arrived in New York City on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the event. This comes as Biden faces ongoing protests during his campaign due to his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. In fact, a rally at a Virginia theater in January was marred by at least 14 disruptions.
Anna Wintour, the renowned editor-in-chief of Vogue, played a key role in organizing the event on Thursday. She collaborated with Jeffrey Katzenberg, a prominent movie mogul and co-chair of the Biden campaign, as well as Rufus Gifford, the campaign’s finance chair, and Chris Korge, the finance chair of the Biden Victory Fund.
Guests who are selected will get the chance to have their portraits captured alongside the three presidents, courtesy of 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, featuring DJ D-Nice.
With seven months left until the general election, Biden is intensifying his campaign efforts. Following his State of the Union address, he has been touring battleground states as part of a “month of action.” This star-studded evening reflects his dedication to connecting with voters across the country.
During a recent visit to the White House, Obama collaborated with Biden to record videos commemorating the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and to aid in future fundraising efforts. The campaign has already released two digital ads featuring the former president, with additional recordings prepared for future release.
Former President Barack Obama, who continues to enjoy popularity among the Democratic base, has already demonstrated his value as a lucrative asset.
Content featuring Obama has helped raise over $15.4 million for Biden’s reelection campaign this cycle, as per the campaign. An event called “Meet the Presidents,” which included both Obama and Biden, raised nearly $3 million in December.
The Thursday fundraiser marks an important milestone as Biden and Obama join forces in their first public campaign event together. With Obama’s involvement, the former president is set to play a key role in fundraising efforts and travel across the nation to support Biden in the lead up to the November election.
President Obama’s senior adviser, Eric Schultz, stated that in light of the significance of this election, President Obama is fully committed to supporting President Biden’s bid for reelection. Schultz added that Obama is eager to assist Democrats at all levels in persuading voters during the upcoming fall elections. The approach will focus on making a tangible difference, particularly by leveraging Obama’s influence in key moments and locations.
Trump, on the other hand, is capitalizing on the event and using it as an opportunity to raise funds. He has sent several emails while the Biden event was being organized, with the subject line, “Obama is back!”
“In a pitch last month, he confidently declared, ‘I have something even better. I have you and millions of patriotic Americans who want to make America great again!'”
According to Katzenberg, Thursday’s event is a clear indication of the remarkable fundraising machine that they have built.
“Our opponent may be raising funds, but we are ensuring that every dollar we raise goes directly to the voters who hold the power to decide this election. We are using these funds to communicate the President’s remarkable achievements, his visionary plans for the future, and to emphasize the critical importance of this election,” the statement emphasized. “The numbers speak for themselves. Today’s event is a powerful demonstration of our strength and reflects the growing momentum behind the Biden-Harris ticket.”
