Source: Politics<\/p>\n
NEW YORK \u2014 Pro-Palestinian protesters repeatedly interrupted President Joe Biden\u2019s fundraiser featuring former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton Thursday night \u2014 underscoring a serious electoral challenge for the incumbent Democrat even as he raked in $26 million.<\/p>\n
The frequent protests \u2014 including shouts of \u201cblood on your hands\u201d<\/a> \u2014 drew flashes of frustration from the former presidents on stage as Biden faces intensifying domestic fallout from the Israel-Hamas war.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can’t just talk and not listen. That’s what the other side does,\u201d Obama said, according to pooled reporters in the room.<\/p>\n Clinton used the protests to push for Biden\u2019s re-election, arguing that Biden cares about Palestinians\u2019 self-determination and establishing a two-state solution. Obama, too, said Biden had the moral clarity to lead during this conflict.<\/p>\n Biden, for his part, called for stopping \u201cthe effort that is resulting in significant deaths of innocent civilians\u201d in Gaza, adding that he\u2019s working with Arab countries, who are \u201cprepared\u201d to \u201cfully recognize Israel for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n The star-studded spectacle \u2014 which featured a performance by Lizzo and was emceed by actress and screenwriter Mindy Kaling \u2014 shattered fundraising records for a single event<\/a>. Late Show host Stephen Colbert interviewed the trio of presidents, all seated in armchairs on stage at Radio City Music Hall Thursday night.<\/p>\n \u201cThree presidents have all come to New York and not one of them is here to appear in court,\u201d Colbert said in a dig at former President Donald Trump\u2019s various legal battles.<\/p>\n Trump was also in New York on Thursday to attend the wake of a New York City police officer killed during a traffic stop on Monday. Trump\u2019s campaign used the split-screen to attack Biden for spending his time raking in cash from wealthy donors and celebrities.<\/p>\n Biden\u2019s fundraiser represents two advantages for his re-election bid \u2014 a sizable campaign warchest and establishment party unity. The event, which raised nearly double what Trump brought in during the entire month of January, is all but certain to build on Biden\u2019s cash edge over the former president. And the joint appearance of popular Democratic ex-presidents offered the appearance of a unified party behind Biden.<\/p>\n Trump, by contrast, easily won the nomination in a crowded field, but there are notable holdouts. The only living Republican president, George W. Bush, hasn\u2019t endorsed Trump\u2019s third run, nor has Mike Pence, his former vice president.<\/p>\n Biden\u2019s strong fundraising, rousing State of the Union address and slight uptick in job approval ratings has quieted some Democratic concerns about his age<\/a>. But the pro-Palestinian protests Thursday night underlined one of Biden\u2019s weaknesses, as he\u2019s faced increasing pressure from his left flank over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war.<\/p>\n Public polling of young voters shows that Biden faces steep challenges in regaining their support, while he still trails in head-to-head polling averages to Trump.<\/p>\n Ahead of the event, hundreds of protesters marched past the line of Biden supporters waiting to enter Radio City Music Hall, calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and criticizing Biden. As attendees left, protesters lined up on Sixth Avenue chanted \u201cgenocide supporter\u201d and \u201ccease-fire now.\u201d<\/p>\n Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), who attended the fundraiser, called the protests \u201cminor,\u201d adding that he \u201cdidn\u2019t think that marred [the event] at all. It\u2019s part of what our democracy is about.\u201d<\/p>\n All three presidents emphasized the threat they see in Trump returning to the White House. Citing Trump\u2019s comments that he\u2019d be dictator \u201cfor one day\u201d if he was reelected<\/a>, \u201che’s not joking,\u201d Biden said. \u201cHe’s serious about this and it really shakes the entire foundation of the world in terms of what’s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n Obama urged Democrats to also make the positive case for Biden\u2019s reelection, noting his efforts to cap the price of insulin built on the Affordable Care Act and the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Act, legislation signed by Obama and Clinton respectively. He urged the protesters to view the election, as Biden has many times, as a choice.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, passions get stirred by what we’re against and Joe is absolutely right that we’ve got not just a nominee, but frankly a party, and an entire infrastructure, that increasingly seems unconcerned with the essence of America,\u201d Obama said. \u201cBut we also have a positive story to tell about the future, and that is something that Joe Biden has worked on, diligently each and every day.\u201d<\/p>\n Colbert also asked Biden to respond to those who think \u201cyou\u2019re too seasoned for the job.\u201d Biden, who is 81, argued that Trump, who is 77, represents ideas that are \u201cfrom the 18th, 19th century.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you pay attention, one thing age does bring is a little bit of wisdom, and I know I don’t look much over forty. I know that,\u201d Biden joked. \u201cAll kidding aside, I think one of the advantages that I’ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n Tensions aside, the events still drew thousands of Democrats, who waited more than an hour in the cold and rain on Fifth Avenue to get into the event. New York state Assemblymember Alex Bores, who was amongst those in line, came to the event straight from the legislative session in Albany.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery election we hear it\u2019s the most important election of our lifetime,\u201d Bores said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to give into that trope, but the stakes on this one feel quite substantial.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Mike Bloomberg press secretary Stu Loeser, who was also spotted in line, said young aides weren\u2019t being handed free tickets to this event like often happened with political fundraisers \u2014 every ticket was sold.<\/p>\n Inside, New York State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs texted POLITICO he was in line for a photo with the presidents.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a who\u2019s who,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Ticket prices for the event started at $225. But access to private receptions ranged from $250,000 to $500,000. Snapping a picture with the three presidents by famed photographer Annie Leibowtiz cost $100,000.<\/p>\n There were still lighthearted moments on stage. Biden joked about his dog, Commander: \u201cHarry Truman said if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. I got one, and it bit a Secret Service agent.\u201d (Commander, who has since been removed from the White House, has reportedly bit Secret Service personnel 24 times.<\/a>)<\/p>\n And Colbert teased Obama over his formality, razzing him for having spent \u201csome time with you and your wife [and] she has repeatedly asked me to call her Michelle, which I now do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI say, \u2018hello, Michelle.\u2019 I continue to call you, \u2018Mr. President\u2019 because you have never invited me to call you anything else,\u201d Colbert continued. \u201cSo my question is to Presidents Biden and Clinton, don’t you think at this point, I should be able to call him Barack?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but your wife can,\u201d Obama said. \u201cI like her. That’s the reason you might not get another invitation.”<\/p>\n