Former President Obama The president is once again stepping up to help secure votes and dollars in the final stages of Biden’s ascension into the White House, and he appears to have allayed the concerns Obama had about Biden’s candidacy in 2020.
Biden’s reunion with former President Trump includes a second repeat role from Obama, whose fame and standing among Democratic donors have been a boon for Biden in financial and public relations at a time when the president faces growing questions about his record, plans and cognitive abilities.
“I’m so proud of what the Biden administration has accomplished,” Obama said during a recent event with Biden and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. “And it reminds us that we don’t have to vote against something in this election. We have to worry about something. And there’s a whole agenda we should be worried about.”
He added, “But we can be proud to confirm the extraordinary job that Joe has done. And we want to make sure that we build on that and then pass it on to the next president, not a president who wants to reverse the progress that has been made.”
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TV host Jimmy Kimmel is shown with President Biden and former President Obama during a campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles on June 15, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)
Obama’s remarks were part of a spectacular fundraising event that saw the Biden campaign raise a whopping $30 million as Hollywood stars such as George Clooney and Julia Roberts took the stage in support of the 46th president. The dollar total broke previous Democratic fundraising records.
Biden is bracing for a tough time This is the second time this year against Trump that polls have shown Biden holding a double-digit lead over Trump, which is within the margin of error.
Biden said in April last year that he would “finish the job” and run for re-election, and the announcement was soon followed by a series of high-profile fundraising events attended by Hollywood stars, figures at the top of American society and industry, and notably Obama.
President Biden and former President Obama. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque TPX Images of the Day)
Obama’s appearance in Los Angeles this month was not the first time his presence helped raise millions of dollars for Biden.
The 44th president and former President Bill Clinton joined Biden for another star-studded fundraiser at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in March, this time hosted by actress Mindy Kaling. During the event, late-night host Stephen Colbert moderated a conversation with Biden, Obama and Clinton, while special guests like Queen Latifah, Lizzo and Ben Platt were also in attendance.
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The event raised more than $26 million, according to the campaign at the time.
According to various media reports, Obama has also recorded campaign videos with Biden in this election cycle and has held talks with Biden about the structure of the campaign in 2024.
Former Presidents Clinton and Obama are shown with President Biden. (Getty Images)
Obama’s 2024 fundraising efforts mirror his actions when he stepped up to help boost Biden in 2020, including an $11 million fundraiser that was the first such event for the two since the Obama administration. Obama campaigned in support of Biden before Election Day, including releasing a A scathing assessment of Trump.
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“Trump is more concerned about satisfying his ego than he is about keeping you and your family safe,” Obama said in Flint, Michigan, days before the 2020 election.
“He’s still worried that his inauguration will be smaller than mine,” Obama said. “That bothers him a lot. He’s still talking about it. Doesn’t he have anything else to worry about? Did nobody come to his birthday party as a child? Was he in shock?”
President-elect Trump greets outgoing First Lady Michelle Obama on January 20, 2017. (Reuters)
But according to a 2019 New York Times report, long before joining Biden on the campaign — or even endorsing his former running mate — Obama warned Biden against seeking the White House, fearing the campaign could “damage his legacy.”
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“You don’t have to do that, Joe, you really don’t have to do that,” Obama reportedly told Biden.
“Win or lose, they needed to make sure Mr. Biden did not ‘embarrass himself’ or ‘damage his legacy’ during the campaign,” The New York Times reported, citing two people with knowledge of the conversations.
Former President Obama (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Obama long remained mum about who he would support, saying he would not endorse anyone during the primaries. Democratic contenders like Pete Buttigieg, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Bernie Sanders dropped out of the primary race, clearing the way for Biden, however, and Obama finally endorsed his former vice president in August 2020.
“Joe has all of the qualities we need in a president right now,” Obama said in a video at the time, adding that choosing him as his running mate in both the 2008 and 2012 elections was “one of the best decisions I ever made.”
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But the process by which Obama chose Biden as vice president also got off to a difficult start.
President Obama holds President Biden’s hand at a fundraiser. (Christopher Gardner, via Storyful)
Biden made a number of mistakes before becoming Obama’s running mate, including one in 2007, when Biden was about to announce his candidacy for the White House. On the eve of his announcement, Biden described Obama to a reporter as “the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean-cut and good-looking.”
Despite Biden’s remarks, he and Obama soon developed and strengthened their professional relationship, resulting in Biden being selected as Obama’s vice president.
Obama may continue to boost Biden’s campaign this election cycle, as recent donation data show Trump has narrowed his campaign’s fundraising gap with Biden’s campaign.
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Fox News Digital reported this weekend that Biden previously had a massive fundraising lead over Trump in the 2024 White House race, but a recent influx of money following Trump’s conviction in a criminal trial in New York has nearly eliminated Biden’s lead.
Trump and the Republican National Committee raised more money than Biden and the DNC for the second consecutive month in May, despite not yet having begun buying ads for the general election. Biden’s campaignIn contrast, it has spent at least $65 million on ad buys.
When reached for comment, a Biden campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “The campaign appreciates President Obama’s help and support.”
