New momentum and fresh money: Joe Biden hosted a fundraising gala together with former US Presidents Obama and Clinton. He collected a total of $25 million for his election campaign. His predecessors found words of praise.
US President Joe Biden has raised a record amount for his election campaign with prominent support. Accompanied by the two former US Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, he held a fundraising gala in New York at the Radio City Music Hall.
According to Biden’s team, they raised a record $25 million – more than Biden’s rival Donald Trump raised in the entire month of February. “The numbers don’t lie: today’s event is a tremendous show of force and reflects the re-election momentum of the Biden-Harris ticket,” said campaign fundraising director Jeffrey Katzenberg, referring to Biden’s Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden chatted with his Democratic predecessors on stage for about an hour.
Praise from the two predecessors
Obama and Clinton praised their party colleague and spoke in a panel about democracy, life in the White House, international conflicts and difficult decisions as president. Biden repeatedly warned against Trump. His competitor denies climate change, is on good terms with autocrats around the world and wants to restrict basic rights.
Obama said voters are faced with the question of who really cares about and cares about their concerns. “I’m pretty sure the other guy doesn’t do that,” he said of Trump – and added, referring to Biden: “This guy does.”
Obama praised his former deputy’s ability to compromise. Biden is ready to find common ground in the event of differences. “That’s the kind of president I want,” he said. Clinton advised voters, considering the alternatives available to them this election year, to “stick with what works.”
Gaza protest and show elements
The election campaign appearance was accompanied by criticism of the US government’s Middle East policy: Protesters interrupted the prominent Democrats on stage several times and shouted “Blood on your hands,” as reporters present reported. Others demonstrated outside. Biden responded by pledging that he would continue working to stop deaths among civilians, especially children. At the same time, he emphasized that Israel’s existence was at stake.
Many Muslims and younger, progressive Democrats criticize Biden in view of the many civilian casualties of the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip and consider his tone towards the Israeli leadership to be too mild.
Thousands of spectators attended the event. According to US media, tickets cost between 225 and half a million dollars. A joint photo with Clinton, Obama and Biden was charged $100,000. Anyone who donated $250,000 was allowed to attend a reception for major donors. In addition to the panel discussion led by host Stephen Colbert from “The Late Show,” there were several show performances, such as those from singer Lizzo and rapper Queen Latifah.
Biden on the defensive
Biden could use new momentum in his election campaign; he has been struggling with poor poll numbers for months. According to polls, he is currently tied with Trump. Many voters see the economy in poor condition despite growth and low unemployment. Recently, the US government’s Middle East policy has also alienated voters.
There are reservations among the population as well as within his party because of his old age: Biden is 81 years old. He would be 82 at the start of a second term and 86 at the end. He regularly makes a name for himself with slips of the tongue and misfires. Trump, in particular, uses this to question his competitor’s mental fitness – even if the Republican, who is only four years his junior, regularly makes embarrassing mistakes.