Biden hosts fundraiser with his two-term Democratic presidential predecessors, striving to join their ranks

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CNN
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President Joe Biden on Thursday joined Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, the only two remaining Democratic presidents, aiming to capitalize on their star power as Biden attempts to join their ranks to attract deep-pocketed donors.

In his most high-profile fundraiser so far this election cycle, Biden joined Obama and Clinton in a high-profile fundraiser at New York’s Radio City Music Hall as the two former presidents enter the general election campaign, Biden said the campaign event will be held at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. Determining the future of American democracy.

The three presidents spoke with late-night host Stephen Colbert. Ticket prices for this fundraiser range from $225 to $500,000, and guests with the highest dollar amount will also enjoy perks such as photos with the three presidents by famous photographer Annie Leibovitz.

More than 5,000 donors are expected to attend the event, which also includes Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo ) and celebrities like Lea Michele.

The fact that three of the four living Democratic presidents were in the same room — 99-year-old Jimmy Carter was receiving hospice care but was not in attendance — speaks volumes about what Biden and Democrats believe In his rivalry with his predecessor, key stakes are high. , former President Donald Trump.

Trump was also in New York on Thursday to attend a memorial service for Jonathan Diller, the New York police officer who was killed in Queens earlier this week. Diller was killed during a traffic stop on Monday.

“It’s really sad, sad, horrible what happened. It happens all the time and we just won’t let it happen. We just can’t do it,” Trump told reporters outside the wake.

He added: “We have to strengthen this. We have to get back to law and order and we have to do a lot of things differently because this is not working.”

The former president’s campaign hopes to break Biden’s record next month. They expect to raise at least $33 million at the April 6 event, which is expected to be attended by some of the Republican Party’s top donors, people familiar with the matter said.

While Thursday night’s main event was limited to the highest-paying donors, the campaign also hosted what they called a separate “preliminary” for grassroots donors, led by campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez Hosted, Biden, Obama and Clinton also attended the event.

That star power appears to be paying off. The Biden campaign said ahead of the fundraiser that it had raised more than $25 million, making it the most successful single political fundraiser ever. Sources familiar with the fundraising efforts told CNN that about a third of the $25 million came from small grassroots donations of $200 or less made online.

Supporters who donate $25 are invited to participate in a “Grassroots Supporter Virtual Preliminary” featuring the three presidents.

Thursday’s fundraiser is expected to be just the beginning of Obama’s involvement in the Biden campaign. The former president traveled to the White House last week to record content with Biden that they plan to steadily roll out in the coming weeks.

He is expected to play a larger role in Biden’s campaign closer to November, including traveling to college campuses and key battlegrounds.

Ahead of the fundraiser, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of midtown Manhattan to protest Biden’s support for Israel in the Gaza war and call for a ceasefire.

Biden, who was interrupted by ceasefire protesters during a stop in North Carolina earlier this week, acknowledged, “They have a point — we need to take more care of Gaza.” He also called for a temporary ceasefire and the release of Kazakhstan. Hostages held by Mas.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

CNN’s Jeff Zeleny, Donald Judd, Brian Rokus, Kristen Holmes and Fredreka Schouten contributed to this report.