President Joe Biden’s campaign is planning a groundbreaking fundraiser in the hope to energize Democratic voters who have yet to show much enthusiasm for the party’s 2024 ticket. The plan is to organise an event that will see three Democratic presidents – Biden, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama – appearing together. The event would be staged this spring, depending on the commitment of the ex-presidents’ diaries, according to insiders familiar with the discussions. Two sources suggest the fundraiser could take place in either March or April.
Joe Biden’s team believes the party needs an all-hands-on-deck approach to assist him in winning a second term and views the 2024 general election as having the highest stakes. The Biden campaign has already shifted into a general election posture earlier than expected due to Republican Donald Trump being in the lead after his victories in New Hampshire and Iowa. As a result, Biden’s campaign is speeding up staff recruitment, particularly in battleground states, to boost the focus on likely voters seen as vital for victory.
The groundwork for the president’s campaign revolves around tapping into key voter blocs. Biden’s campaign events, for instance, are now more targeted towards Black voters – with Saturday’s South Carolina event the latest example. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris has embarked on a series of small events with Latino voters. Biden officials state that the president will increase his travel schedule, which is already steady, by a minimum of two days a week so as to reach more voters across key states.
The Biden campaign’s fundraiser with three ex-presidents underscores a growing list of ways in which Democratic leaders and the Biden camp are gearing up for the general election. However, to date, Democratic voters have shown little excitement thus far after Biden fell short in Iowa and New Hampshire. The aim by the former president’s team is not only to generate lucrative headlines but also to awaken Democratic voters to give the party’s 2024 ticket a boost.
No details have been given on the format of the fundraising event, with the focus currently on coordinating the commitment of the three ex-presidents. Biden has numerous links with Clinton and Obama spanning 50 years, with Obama backing his former running mate in a video message last April. Clinton endorsed Biden as a presidential candidate in April, with Biden describing Clinton as a “friend” for over 40 years. With these strong relationships, fundraising commitments to the event by the former presidents should materialize despite they both having already endorsed Joe Biden’s election campaign.
Biden’s team sees the forthcoming election as an essential turning point in US history, with the future of the economy, healthcare and the coronavirus pandemic high on the agenda. The Biden campaign will be hoping that the presidential involvement of three former presidents can also help to bridge any divides within the Democratic party and provide a much-needed surge in momentum ahead of the campaign trail.
