By Rob Crilly, Senior US Political Reporter For Dailymail.Com In Los Angeles, California
02:40 21 Feb 2024, up to date 04:38 21 Feb 2024
- President Joe Biden arrived in California on Tuesday afternoon for a fundraising journey
- The primary cease was the Santa Monica house of billionaire media mogul Haim Saban
- However he and a co-host had been pressured to remain away after testing optimistic for COVID
President Joe Biden landed in California on Tuesday for a serious fundraising push solely to study that the hosts of his first glitzy occasion have examined optimistic for COVID-19.
Haim Saban, an Israeli-American media mogul who launched the USA to the Energy Rangers, fell sick earlier within the day after which leisure government Casey Wasserman examined optimistic, in accordance with the host on the stand -in Leslie Gilbert-Lurie.
It appears a wierd return to the 2020 election when the marketing campaign was lowered to Zoom occasions and pandemic precautions.
“I want him the speediest restoration,” Biden mentioned as he took the stage in entrance of a number of hundred supporters, together with Jane Fonda.
Particulars of the optimistic exams emerged simply after Air Pressure One landed at Los Angeles Worldwide Airport.
His motorcade arrived on the house of billionaire Saban in a gated group in Beverly Hills as deliberate. And the occasion, for which the tickets are over $250,000, nonetheless went forward.
Biden apologized for holding his viewers ready.
'Look individuals, I wouldn't wait this lengthy for anybody besides probably… What's your title? Jane Fonda? he paused earlier than the gang burst into laughter.
He used the chance to slam former President Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans who’re lining up alongside him to fail.
“When Navalny died final week and the world holds Putin accountable, Trump nonetheless fails to sentence him,” he mentioned of the Russian opposition chief who died in a Russian jail final week. 'It's outrageous.
'The underside line: Republicans must resolve who to serve? Donald Trump or the American individuals?
It marks his second go to to the state this month to swell marketing campaign coffers already brimming with $130 million — the very best complete ever amassed by a Democratic candidate at this stage of the race.
The journey is his third go to to California in simply over two months for political occasions, a part of a catch-up push after avoiding the state due to final 12 months's writers' strike.
His first cease was Los Angeles. There can even be marketing campaign occasions in San Francisco and Los Altos Hills throughout his three-day journey, with an official coverage handover close to Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The primary occasion was at Saban's home. He’s a famous supporter of Israel, elevating issues that he may entice protesters demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Los Angeles Occasions reported that different hosts even have deep ties to the Jewish group, together with Leslie Gilbert-Lurie, creator of a e book about her life because the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, and Nicole Mutchnik, vice chairman of the Anti-Defamation League. who campaigns towards anti-Semitism.
He mentioned tickets for the occasion begin at $3,300.
In what felt like a return to the 2020 election marketing campaign, organizers needed to scramble to make sure the occasion may go forward after each hosts examined optimistic for COVID-19.
Anybody who comes into contact with the president is all the time required to undergo the take a look at.
Gilbert-Lurie assured the viewers that they had been secure.
“Sadly, Haim got here down with COVID earlier at this time lengthy earlier than the company arrived,” he mentioned. “As a precaution, his household is remoted, and we want him a speedy restoration.
“So, to everybody's shock, Casey examined optimistic later this afternoon. However nonetheless lengthy earlier than any of you arrived.
The repeated swings via California, a state that’s not even near being aggressive for Republicans, present how Biden must proceed to boost cash for what will probably be a troublesome match-up with Trump, who has mastered the artwork of leverage tens of millions of small donors. .
In his announcement on Tuesday, the Biden marketing campaign performed down the significance of small donations, saying that 97 p.c of his three million contributions had been lower than $200 a time.
TJ Ducklo, senior communications adviser, mentioned: “This shot will go on to the voters who will resolve this election.”
Earlier this month, the president visited the Los Angeles house of Star Wars creator George Lucas, the place he tapped rich donors who had been on the town for the Golden Globes.
Nationwide polls counsel Biden leads the probably Republican nominee by about three to 4 factors.
He went on the offensive over feedback made by Trump that appeared to undermine NATO, the alliance of Western nations that pledge mutual protection.
The marketing campaign ran digital advertisements within the battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin highlighting the previous president's menace to NATO nations.
And Biden additionally criticized Home Republicans for blocking a invoice that might have despatched $60 billion in help to Ukraine for its protection towards Russia.
“The concept we're going to stroll away from Ukraine, the concept we're going to let NATO begin to crumble is completely towards the pursuits of the USA of America and it's towards our phrase that we gave . . all the best way again to Eisenhower,” he instructed reporters on Sunday.
