Biden hits fund-raising trail in show of strength after dismal debate performance

Biden hits fund-raising trail in show of strength after dismal debate performance
US President Joe Biden looks on during his visit at the Chavis Community Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, March 26, 2024.
PHOTO: Reuters

EAST HAMPTON, New York - President Joe Biden embarked on a series of fund-raising events across two states on June 29, as he works to stamp out a crisis of confidence in his re-election campaign following a feeble debate performance that dismayed his fellow Democrats.

The events are being held as many nervous Democratic donors are lamenting Mr Biden’s weak showing against Republican rival Donald Trump on June 27 and wondering what, if anything, they could do to change the course of the race, according to interviews with more than a dozen Democratic fund-raisers.

Mr Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited the upscale New York beach enclave known as the Hamptons for a campaign fund-raiser hosted by hedge-fund billionaire Barry Rosentein. Later in the day, he will travel to New Jersey for a fund-raiser hosted by wealthy New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat.

“I understand the concern about the debate. I didn’t have a great night,” Mr Biden told the room of about 100 supporters gathered in the Hamptons.

“The point is I didn’t have a great night, but neither did Trump.”

He added, “I promise you we’re going to win this election.”

Another hedge-fund founder, Mr Eric Mindich, and his Tony Award-winning producer wife Stacey, celebrity couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, and actor Michael J. Fox were all listed as members of the host committee at the New York event, according to an invitation seen by Reuters.

Mr Biden told a rally in North Carolina on June 28 he intended to defeat Republican rival Donald Trump in the November presidential election, giving no sign he would heed calls from Democrats who want him to drop out of the race.

The race is very close, according to polls, and will likely come down to voters in a few battleground states.

Mr Biden’s verbal stumbles and occasionally meandering responses during the debate heightened voter concerns that the 81-year-old might not be fit to serve another four-year term.

Trump, meanwhile, unleashed a barrage of criticisms, many of which were well-worn falsehoods he has long repeated, including claims that migrants have carried out a crime wave, that Democrats support infanticide, and that he actually won the 2020 election.

The Biden campaign on June 29 boasted it had raised more than US$27 million (S$36 million) between debate day through June 28 evening, but questions remain about whether the debate performance will hurt fund-raising, at least in the short term. The donor class is being closely watched for signs of whether he can ride out the doubts.

Mr Biden held a US$100 million advantage over Trump just a couple of months ago, but the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee entered June with US$212 million in the bank, compared with US$235 million for the Trump operation and the Republican National Committee.

Many top donors called political advisers in recent days to inquire about little-known rules under which Mr Biden might be removed from the ticket against his will and replaced at or before the Democratic National Convention in August, according to two people who fielded the inquiries.

Some donors were actively trying to reach Mrs Jill Biden, the first lady, who in turn could persuade her husband not to run, the New York Times reported on June 29.

Mr Reid Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn and one of the Democratic Party’s most influential donors, wrote in an email to friends on June 28 evening that he had been inundated.

“I got a lot of emails in the last 24 hours asking whether there should be a public campaign to pressure President Biden to step aside after his (very) bad debate performance last night,” he wrote in the email, which was seen by Reuters. “It certainly delivered a blow to the mood among donors and organisers.”

He said it was up to Mr Biden and his family to make a decision, adding, “If anything, a public effort might compel the Bidens to try to prove the doubters wrong.”

One major fund-raiser for the Biden campaign said some donors were learning fast how little influence they have in this situation.

“There are a lot of people who think they are more important than they actually are,” the fund-raiser said.

ALSO READ: Biden acknowledges age, bad debate performance but vows to beat Trump

 

Source: Reuters

homepage

trending

trending
    Man brandishes knife at car along Jalan Besar; arrested for suspected drug-related offences
    National Day 2025: President's Office, Mindef, SAF hold observance ceremonies
    Singapore ranks top in Asia for work-life balance and 25th in the world, according to Remote study
    Every Saturday, his wife and neighbours watch the sky, looking for one jet
    Guide to National Day in Singapore (2025): Best spots to watch fireworks, heartland celebrations and more
    17-year-old girl breaches home detention, arrested after car crashes into prison van
    Student taken to hospital after being caught with vape, behaving aggressively towards staff member
    Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely
    'Ah, National Day has arrived': Uncle Ong's 11-year flag tradition in Toa Payoh
    Dean Cain signs up to work for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    Feel the force at this Star Wars pop-up library in Changi Airport Terminal 3
    4 Certis officers charged after receiving over $9,700 in bribes, leaking operational information

Singapore

Singapore
    • 41 spots, 232 applicants: Princess Elizabeth Primary most oversubscribed in Phase 2C of P1 registration
    • 19 drivers caught for providing illegal ride-hailing services at Gardens by the Bay, Changi Airport and land checkpoint
    • NDP 2025: Police Coast Guard to deploy upgraded patrol boats at Padang and Bayfront celebrations
    • Elderly man dies more than a year after accident while using PMD left him in a vegetative state
    • Daily roundup: Police Coast Guard to deploy upgraded patrol boats for NDP 2025 — and other top stories today
    • 'More customers mean more money': Clarke Quay, Boat Quay businesses looking forward to extended operating hours
    • Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds
    • SCDF officer who molested female subordinate gets 15 months' jail
    • Man charged for having 5 Kpods containing etomidate
    • JB to enforce stricter rules on car wash businesses, classifies them as 'high-risk'

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • British boy band Blue announces Singapore concert in November
    • Taiwanese actor Greg Hsu completes military service, returns to showbiz
    • 'We bonded over kaya toast and kopi': SG60 film Kopitiam Days premieres with 14 cast members and President Tharman in attendance
    • 'I was worried whether our bodies would keep up': J-pop boy band Ballistik Boyz recall filming for new music video
    • 'More like a trip with friends': Cast of K-drama Love, Take Two recall bonding in the countryside during filming
    • 'Small gestures speak the loudest': Director M. Raihan Halim focuses on familial love in SG60 film Kopitiam Days
    • Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband dies aged 48 from cancer
    • Romeo Tan learns to 'hold space for others' after new drama
    • Belinda Carlisle says young female artists are 'embarrassing' themselves with 'sexualised' appearance
    • Helen Mirren feels 'insulted' when told she looks good for her age

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • I try 11 new Michelin Bib Gourmand 2025 eateries to see if they're worth the hype, here's my honest take
    • Bak kut teh ramen, laksa shakshuka and chilli crab burgers: Celebrate National Day with these exclusive SG60 meals
    • Japanese restaurant Umi Nami to shutter, in yet another F&B business closure at Holland Village
    • Uniqlo launching T-shirt collection in collab with Pokemon Trading Card Game
    • Relive the good old days while doing good this National Day at Four Star's SG60 celebration event
    • One-Michelin-starred Restaurant Euphoria shutters, chef-owner looks to 'rethink the future' of his cuisine
    • BYD's latest lifestyle and F&B space at Punggol serves up in-house roasted coffee, ceremonial-grade matcha and more
    • From skyline to storylines - here's a first look at the refreshed Singapore Flyer experience
    • Survey shows Singaporeans least keen among Southeast Asians to travel to US, here's why
    • From classroom to careers - how Macallan College is opening doors for Filipino students in Australia

Digicult

Digicult
    • Slim, sleek, but slightly too short-lived: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • Here's everything in GPT-5 that's new and different than OpenAI's previous AI models
    • Australia regulator says YouTube, others 'turning a blind eye' to child abuse material
    • ZipZap car subscription service launches in Singapore
    • Sony RX1R III brings back the compact full-frame but not the Sony playbook
    • China's Premier Li proposes global AI co-operation organisation
    • 'They don't gaslight you': Why some Singaporean women like to spend on these virtual men
    • Elon Musk's Starlink network suffers rare global outage
    • Spy cockroaches and AI robots: Germany plots the future of warfare

Money

Money
    • Up 4.3%: Singapore's economy grew in Q2 despite US tariff fears
    • DBS beats expectations with $2.82b net profit for second quarter, maintains 2025 outlook
    • Carro targets US IPO with over $3.8b valuation, sources say
    • US companies spending record amounts to protect executives as threats rise
    • Electric car-sharing firm BlueSG to wind down current operations on Aug 8
    • Singapore's most expensive neighbourhoods are changing - 4 buyer trends that prove it in 2025
    • Should you buy a used car in Singapore? Pros, pitfalls and price comparisons
    • Why I bought 7 properties in Johor Bahru, and will still buy more
    • Trump says US will set 15% tariff on South Korean imports under new deal
    • Cathay Cineplexes operator mm2 hires debt restructuring specialist as it faces more payment demands; CEO Chang Long Jong to retire

Latest

Latest
  • Israeli plan for Gaza takeover must be halted immediately, UN rights chief says
  • China accuses Philippines of 'playing with fire' on Taiwan
  • Indonesian artists, students unfurl manga pirate sign as protest symbol
  • Australian mushroom murderer allegedly served poisoned pasta to her husband
  • Senior EU official says Gaza crisis 'looks very much' like genocide
  • Cargo of cocaine in animal skins leads to Portuguese police captain
  • Nearly 12,000 children under 5 in Gaza have acute malnutrition, says WHO
  • Myanmar signs deal with Washington lobbyists to rebuild US relations
  • FBI ousts ex-acting director, other agents, in latest purge, people briefed say

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Tourist in Hong Kong killed after cabby, 80, crashes into pillar outside hotel
  • 2 Malaysian men nabbed at Woodlands Checkpoint for allegedly smuggling drugs worth over $150k into Singapore
  • Parents reject $30k settlement from kindergarten in JB after son suffocates to death in school van
  • Pritam gets candid with kids’ questions on his worst subjects and favourite song in radio interview
  • Bro-code before go-mode: Meet the duo leading NDP 2025
  • Singapore bus operators, LTA reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB one hour earlier
  • Part-time PHV driver who stopped suicide attempt among 38 recipients of MHA’s public spiritedness award
  • Australian man, 82, arrested for alleged March thefts at Changi Airport upon return to Singapore  
  • JB car wash operators say 'unfair' after business declines amid govt clampdown over prioritising Singapore-registered cars
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.