As the year-end deadline for the final fundraising quarter approaches, President Joe Biden is gearing up for a fundraising marathon. A source familiar with the events revealed to CNN that the President is set to attend at least nine high-dollar fundraisers in early to mid-December. This fundraising push, which includes two events featuring celebrity lineups, is part of the Biden team’s strategy to bolster its campaign funds ahead of the 2024 elections.
Focus on General Election Fundraising
The Biden campaign officials have emphasized that this period has provided them with an opportunity to concentrate on raising funds for the general election. Meanwhile, their Republican counterparts continue to deplete their resources on primary contests scheduled for the early months of the forthcoming year. The President is expected to need a substantial war chest to compete in the general election, which could potentially see him face off against his predecessor, former President Donald Trump. Recent polls have indicated that the GOP front-runner is leading Biden in hypothetical matchups at both the state and national levels.
Year-End Fundraising Blitz
As part of his year-end fundraising blitz, President Biden will travel to Boston for a trio of fundraisers, including a concert headlined by James Taylor. The “You’ve Got A Friend in Joe” fundraising concert tickets range from $50 to $7,500, as per an invitation obtained by CNN. In addition to this, the President is set to appear at two other campaign finance receptions in the Boston area.
Hollywood Heavyweights and High-Profile Fundraisers
Later in the week, Biden will head west for two fundraisers in Los Angeles, including one that taps into the networks of some Hollywood heavyweights. The President and First Lady, along with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are scheduled to appear at a December 8 fundraiser hosted by James Costos, a former US ambassador to Spain, and Michael Smith, a celebrity designer who decorated the Obama family’s private quarters at the White House. The extensive list of co-hosts includes producer Shonda Rhimes, director Stephen Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw, actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner, and Rick Caruso, the billionaire who ran for mayor of Los Angeles last year.
Upcoming Fundraisers and Campaign Surrogates
The President is also scheduled to speak at two fundraisers in Washington, DC, one in Maryland with the state’s governor, Wes Moore, and another in Philadelphia in the coming weeks. Vice President Kamala Harris and campaign surrogates, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Sen. Alex Padilla, and Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez, will also host their own fundraisers for the campaign in December.
Small-Dollar Donations and Grassroots Donors
These high-dollar fundraisers come as the campaign is also looking to reel in more small-dollar donations before the end of the quarter. They’ve recently tried to tap into grassroots donors with fundraising contests to meet the President, First Lady, and Vice President. November marked the campaign’s best performing month with grassroots donors – individuals giving $200 or less – since Biden announced his reelection bid.
Continued Enthusiasm and Significant Hauls
“We continue to see sustained enthusiasm from our supporters across the country who understand the stakes of this election and are deeply committed to ensuring the President has the resources we need to win next November,” said Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz. “We’re putting in the work across our fundraising program and look forward to again outperforming the MAGA field.”
The Biden campaign and the Democratic Party have raised significant amounts in the first two quarters since Biden announced his reelection bid. The team brought in $72 million in the second quarter and another $71 million in the third quarter, outpacing Trump and the rest of the Republican primary field in the same periods. The President’s political operation, along with the Democratic National Committee, ended the last quarter with $91 million in cash on hand.