U.S. President Joe Biden is set to meet with former Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at a fundraising event in New York City on Thursday. This meeting will highlight a shared history among the three, as well as their common focus on the potential electoral stakes for 2024, despite some previous tensions. Biden has close ties with Obama, having served as vice president under him for eight years, in addition to his longstanding relationship with Clinton, who led a legislative agenda in the 1990s.
Biden has recently spoken with both presidents about the best strategies to tackle the political challenge posed by former President Donald Trump. However, the newspaper noted that these relationships are complicated, as some close to Biden felt displeased with Obama's team during his vice presidency. There were also grievances from some of Obama's alumni who questioned Biden's ability to win the presidential election. Additionally, Obama's support for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election caused some tensions among the three.
In this context, former Clinton campaign strategist James Carville confirmed, "They are united now because of the threat of Trump," adding, "Every politician has a history with another politician. This is normal. But I think they are very unified because of this threat."
This rare meeting between the current president and the two former presidents comes as Biden seeks to achieve what his predecessors accomplished: winning a second term in a challenging political climate. Biden draws his message to voters from the legacy of his predecessors in some ways: the economic transformation engineered by both Clinton and Obama during their eight years, along with warnings that a return to Republican leadership would be a setback for the nation. Despite their previous disagreements, the three leaders recognize what a second Trump presidency could mean for the country, their party, and their legacies.
Their joint efforts appear to be paying off, as Biden's campaign stated that Thursday's event is expected to raise over $25 million, a substantial amount for a one-day fundraising effort.
