President Biden kicked off a fundraising tour in California and Washington, targeting high-profile donors at a series of campaign events organized by affluent supporters. The tour began with two campaign receptions in the San Francisco Bay Area, the first hosted at the residence of billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla in Portola Valley, followed by another event in Palo Alto hosted by former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer.
Tickets for the fundraiser at Mr. Khosla’s home ranged from $6,600 to $100,000 each, drawing over 100 attendees combined. Mr. Khosla, a strong supporter of President Biden, has made significant contributions to Democratic causes in the current election cycle. The President is set to make additional appearances in Seattle, with senior staff from Microsoft and Amazon listed as hosts for an event on Saturday.
The fundraising efforts come as the Biden campaign aims to maintain a financial edge over former President Trump’s campaign. A recent $14 million ad buy targets Black and Latino voters in battleground states. In contrast, Mr. Trump has been aggressively pursuing wealthy donors, making direct appeals at gatherings such as a dinner hosted by billionaire John Paulson that raised over $50 million for his campaign.
Despite engaging with major donors, President Biden highlighted his grassroots support, noting that 97% of his campaign donors had contributed less than $200. He emphasized the campaign’s presence in battleground states, contrasting it with Mr. Trump’s lack of physical offices in these key areas.
The tour represents an opportunity to garner support from affluent and Democratic-leaning regions on the West Coast. California, in particular, has been a significant source of donations for the Biden campaign, with nearly $21 million coming from the state through March according to FEC data. Previous fundraising events in California, including stops in Santa Monica and Mountain View, have been successful, attracting support from influential figures in Hollywood and beyond.
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