The epicenter of the presidential campaign shifted to New York on Thursday as the incumbent president and three of his predecessors descended on the area for dueling events that highlighted the kind of political battles that could define the general election.
For Democrats, it was a high-profile fundraiser for President Biden in Manhattan. On Long Island, former President Donald J. Trump attended a memorial service for a New York City officer killed during a traffic stop on Monday. Overall, the day’s events marked an unusual moment in a general election campaign that has so far been largely characterized by courtroom appearances and small, invitation-only events. In recent weeks, Mr. Trump has spent far more time fighting in court than in battleground states.
Mr. Biden joined Barack Obama and Bill Clinton for a joint fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall that campaign officials said raised $25 million. The stunning number marked a record for a single political event, aides said, and was a high-profile display of Democratic unity as the president faces a difficult re-election campaign.
Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, had himself appeared in the area a few hours earlier at a funeral home on Long Island. His campaign used the stop to create a sharp contrast with Mr. Biden and attack Democrats for spending their evening with donors and celebrities.
Mr. Biden, meanwhile, has increased the pace of his events since his State of the Union address earlier this month. But the fundraiser is expected to be one of the largest crowds he has ever seen as president, with an expected 5,000 donors. It will also expand an already significant cash advantage, raising $5 million more in one night than Mr. Trump reported in February.
“This historic fundraising event is a sign of great enthusiasm for President Biden and Vice President Harris and a testament to the unprecedented fundraising machine we have built,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, a co-chair of the campaign.
The day’s events underscored a central dynamic of the race: Mr. Biden is campaigning with the power of the Democratic establishment behind his bid, while Mr. Trump stands largely alone.
While Mr. Trump was supported by many Republicans in Congress, a small but stubborn wing of the party refused to support his third bid for the White House. The only living former Republican president has not supported his bid, nor has Mike Pence, his former vice president.
Mr. Biden faces a different problem. Almost every Democratic Party official, politician and strategist is behind his efforts. Still, he faces continued opposition from a vocal minority of progressives who have protested the war in Gaza through protest votes and event disruptions.
On Thursday, a group of several hundred protesters marched through the rain to line up outside the fundraiser. “Biden, Biden, you are a liar, we demand a ceasefire,” they shouted.
In the hall, the three presidents were scheduled to appear on stage in front of nearly 5,000 attendees for a conversation moderated by late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert. A music program hosted by actress Mindy Kaling will feature a number of celebrity endorsers including Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele.
Only a small group of press members traveling with the White House were allowed to attend the event, and video footage by the news media was prohibited. Before the fundraiser, the three presidents did a joint interview on “Smartless,” a podcast hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes.
Mr Trump’s appearance struck a markedly different tone. The former president spent about 30 minutes at a funeral home in the Long Island suburb of Massapequa, visiting the widow and 1-year-old son of official Jonathan Diller. Mr. Diller was fatally shot during a traffic stop on Monday.
Although it was not an official campaign event, Mr. Trump used the opportunity to express his tough, anti-crime message. Mr. Trump, who faces four criminal trials, including one in Manhattan that will be heard in less than three weeks, stood in front of more than a dozen police officers and proclaimed the need for the country to “get back to the law and … command.”
His campaign conveyed a different message, drawing a sharp contrast between Mr. Trump’s visit and the other political event in the region.
“President Trump will honor Officer Diller’s legacy,” Steven Cheung, a campaign spokesman, said on social media.
New York Mayor Eric Adams, who attended Mr. Trump’s wake, told reporters that Mr. Biden had called him to express his condolences, which Mr. Adams said he would forward to the family. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said Mr Biden had supported police officers throughout his career.
“Violent crime has increased significantly under the previous administration,” she said aboard Air Force One as the president traveled to New York City. “The Biden-Harris administration has done the exact opposite, taking decisive action from the start to fund police and achieve historic crime reductions.”
Michael Gold and Julian Roberts-Grmela contributed reporting.
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2024-03-29 02:54:43
www.nytimes.com
