Joe Biden raises $25 million, a record amount for a political event, at a campaign event in New York

This Thursday, Joe Biden took part in a select crowd bath as a candidate for re-election in November. Accompanied by his Democratic predecessors in the White House Bil Clinton and Barack Obama, the current US president was the star of a fundraising event in New York with the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. A record fundraising figure, $25 million, more than everything raised by his Republican rival, Donald Trump, in the month of February. A mass spectacle, for thousands of people and held at the historic Radio City Hall in Manhattan, but limited to those willing to pay $225 for the cheapest ticket. With musical performances,

premium

rates to take a photo with the three leaders or, finally, an after-party with the first lady, Jill Biden, as host, for an exclusive group of 500 guests. The other great American spectacle, elections, never disappoints.

Three decades of Democratic leadership met this Thursday at the historic venue on Manhattan's Sixth Avenue, on a rain-soaked day. That New York is a Democratic city to the core is well known: Biden already made a hat trick in February with three fundraising events in a single day, which paralyzed Manhattan due to traffic cuts for the presidential motorcade, but, unlike the event in Today, all three were held in the private residences of large donors. Figures aside - the 25 million raised are a record for a political event, according to the current president's campaign - the most significant thing about this Thursday's event has been the presence of Obama and Clinton alongside Biden. This shows that the Democrats have activated the panic button seven months before the presidential elections due to the advantage that the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, has in many polls. Also, according to the polls, in the six pivotal or swing states, in which a handful of votes can decide the fate of the vote.

The $25 million figure raised at the New York event includes money from supporters who handed over cash in the previous weeks for the opportunity to attend. The collection, which exceeds by five million dollars the total obtained by Trump throughout the month of February, implies important Democratic support for Biden in the face of persistently low polls. Exactly the opposite scenario to that of his rival, Trump, rising in the polls and lagging behind the Democrat in fundraising, and whose legal expenses have drained a good part of what was harvested by his campaign committees.

But Trump already demonstrated with his 2016 victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton that he did not need to raise the most money to win the presidency. Although Biden had 155 million dollars in cash at the end of February, compared to 37 million for Trump and his political action committee

Save America

, Obama's recent campaign entry, who today traveled with Biden from Washington aboard the

Air Force One

, the presidential plane, indicates that unrest in Democratic ranks is on its way to turning into panic. Clinton joined them in New York.

The event in the historic concert hall on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, in front of which a large group of protesters gathered to demand a ceasefire in Gaza - a constant in all of Biden's public outings - is a coup de effect, almost psychological to overcome the Democratic discouragement in the face of the polls, and puts the finishing touch to a frenetic series of trips by the presidential campaign in the last three weeks, those that have elapsed since his State of the Union speech kicked off of the electoral race and reassured the Democrats by the energy shown that day. During this period, Biden has visited several political battlefields, especially disputed territories in the Midwestern states that in 2016 voted for Trump and in 2020 for the Democrat. Almost at the rate of one trip per day, a very demanding agenda to demonstrate to the voter that the “old man with a bad memory” described by the prosecutor in the classified papers case is willing to fight like a kid.

Half a million dollars for a meeting with the three leaders

Like everything in the United States, the figures for this Thursday's event, like the success of the campaign, are measured in dollars. The event itself, which lasts an hour, has different levels of access depending on what donors pay. The centerpiece, the most expensive, is an onstage conversation with the three presidents, moderated by late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert. Music artists will also participate, such as Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele, who will be introduced by actress Mindy Kaling.

Starting at $225, rates increase the more exclusive and close the contact with the three presidents. A photo with the three of them costs $100,000. A donation of $250,000 gives access to a reception, and $500,000 gives access to an even more exclusive meeting. “But the party doesn't end there,” the campaign warned in a statement. First lady Jill Biden and a well-known DJ will host an after-party at Radio City Music Hall for 500 guests.

“This historic fundraiser is a testament to the tremendous enthusiasm for President Biden and Vice President Harris and a testament to the unprecedented fundraising machine we have built,” campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg said before the event. "Unlike our opponent, every dollar we are raising is going to reach the voters who will decide these elections, communicating the president's record, his vision for the future and making clear what is at stake in these elections." The allusion to Trump's diversion of campaign funds to pay his hefty legal fees was made clear.

Trump's campaign hopes to raise $33 million at a major fundraiser next week in Palm Beach, Florida. While his rival appeared on Radio City Music Halla like a rock star, Trump, who has spent very little time in the Big Apple since his legal troubles began, attended the wake on Long Island of a New York police officer who died on Monday. in the act of service.

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