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| Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images |
Here’s a Hollywood ending that President Joe Biden wants to bring to life: an incumbent, despite challenging poll numbers and queries about his age, emerges victorious over a bold challenger to secure a second term in the White House.
Now that the strikes by writers and actors have concluded, Biden is taking his pitch directly to the Southern California crowd. Over the weekend, he and First Lady Jill Biden attended six fundraising events and meetings in the Los Angeles area, appealing to some of the most glamorous names in the industry to open their wallets for his reelection campaign.
"This has been an incredibly successful night," remarked the president at his first fundraiser on Friday. He added a touch of humor by stating he wouldn't speak for long because he was "the only thing standing between you and Lenny Kravitz."
The Friday night event, hosted by celebrity designer Michael Smith and his partner James Costos, featured a performance by Kravitz and has already generated over $8 million, according to an anonymous source familiar with the matter, who shared internal campaign details.
In a lighthearted remark to the packed crowd in his overflowing backyard, Costos quipped, "It's just a normal Friday at our house." He emphasized that the gathering was more than a Hollywood affair, describing it as a national event with supporters joining from around the country.
Seizing the opportunity, Biden aimed at Donald Trump, branding him "the first losing president and candidate in history who refused to accept the result" of the 2020 race. Reflecting on Trump's absence at his inauguration, Biden humorously noted, "I can't say I was disappointed," with a grin, he added, "My guess is he won't show up at the next inauguration."
While hundreds of protesters, demonstrating against the Biden administration's stance on Israel during its conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, could be heard in the distance, it's doubtful the president could hear them from the stage.
During the event, President Biden took a swipe at Donald Trump, labeling him as "the first losing president and candidate in history who refused to accept the result" of the 2020 race. Reflecting on Trump's absence at his inauguration, Biden humorously stated, "I can't say I was disappointed," and added with a chuckle, "My guess is he won't show up at the next inauguration."
While hundreds of protesters, demonstrating against the Biden administration's stance on Israel during the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, could be heard in the distance, it's unlikely the president could hear them from the stage.
The weekend's events, a mix of public and private gatherings over approximately 36 hours in California, are anticipated to be highly successful in terms of fundraising. Organizers believe that Biden may raise more during this weekend than in any similar timeframe since announcing his campaign in April, potentially exceeding any presidential candidate's fundraising in greater Los Angeles this far from Election Day.
Jeffrey Katzenberg, a co-founder of DreamWorks Pictures and a longtime Democratic presidential fundraiser in Los Angeles, expressed the unprecedented excitement and enthusiasm among people, stating, "People are excited. They're mobilized. And they've been waiting months to show their support for him."
This weekend aims to contribute to Biden reaching a fundraising target of about $67 million for the fourth quarter of the year, according to an anonymous source close to the president's campaign.
The Friday night fundraiser featured notable figures like Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, director Rob Reiner, recording industry mogul David Geffen, and Shonda Rhimes, the showrunner of "Scandal" and executive producer of "Bridgerton." Rocker Lenny Kravitz performed, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the crowd.
Another fundraising meeting is scheduled for Saturday at Jeffrey Katzenberg's home.
Having refrained from fundraising in Los Angeles during the extended writers' and actors' work stoppages, Biden, who often dubs himself the "most pro-union" president in U.S. history, is now free to court Hollywood — a traditional source of significant donations for Democrats — without facing political backlash.
Katzenberg anticipates that this weekend will mark the beginning of more frequent fundraising trips to the West by Biden. Additionally, the president has been actively collecting funds on the East Coast, recently flying to Boston for a trio of gatherings, including one featuring singer-songwriter James Taylor, and participating in a high-dollar event near the White House on Wednesday.
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