Biden campaign to raise $25m ‘money bomb’ at event with Obama and Clinton

Joe Biden will appear onstage with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, his two most recent predecessors as a Democratic president, in New York City on Thursday night, a presidential extravaganza the Biden-election campaign said would raise a “historic” $25m.

Such a haul, which Politico called an “NYC money bomb”, will widen Biden’s lead over Donald Trump in fundraising for the November election.

Amid improving polling for Biden, the two presidential campaigns recently posted February fundraising figures. Federal filings showed Biden nearly $40m up in cash raised, leading the president’s campaign to taunt their rival as “Broke Don”.

Biden’s Thursday night show at Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan will be compered by the actor Mindy Kaling, feature performances by artists including Queen Latifah and Lizzo, and culminate with a three-way presidential conversation moderated by the late-night TV host Stephen Colbert.

Tickets start at $250 but top-ups include $100,000 for a picture with Biden, Obama and Clinton – three men recently ranked by political scientists as the 14th-, seventh- and 12th-greatest presidents of all time. In the same survey, Trump finished 45th and last.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, the Hollywood mogul turned Biden campaign co-chair, said: “This historic raise is a show of strong enthusiasm for President Biden and Vice-President [Kamala] Harris and a testament to the unprecedented fundraising machine we’ve built.

“Unlike our opponent, every dollar we’re raising is going to reach the voters who will decide this election – communicating the president’s historic record, his vision for the future and laying plain the stakes of this election. The numbers don’t lie: today’s event is a massive show of force and a true