A Starry Affair For Campaign Funding
President Joe Biden is set to arrive in Hollywood this Saturday. This trip isn’t for any movie premiere, instead, he joins an illustrious line-up of celebrities including late-night talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel, ex-president Barack Obama, and Hollywood biggies George Clooney and Julia Roberts.
This event isn’t the president’s first rodeo with celebrity guests. In March, Biden’s campaign stop at New York witnessed a similar glamorous gathering. Hosted by Stephen Colbert, it featured Obama, former president Bill Clinton, and numerous Broadway stars. That event collected a hefty $25 million for Biden’s presidential campaign.
California’s Role In Presidential Campaigns
California, a blue state projected to be a cakewalk for Biden, is known for its role in presidential campaigns. The state has been a fund-generating stop for out-of-state nominees, irrespective of their party. Joel Fox, an adjunct professor at the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University, likened this to an “ATM machine of national politics.”
“Politicians come to California to gather funds to spend elsewhere,” observed Fox. He gave a nod to Donald Trump’s recent fundraising mission to Beverly Hills as well. This trend also rings true for Republicans.
The Financial Trappings Of A Campaign
Trump and the Republican Party outdid Biden in April. They accumulated $76 million while Biden and the Democratic National Committee secured $51 million in that month. Despite this, Biden’s war chest at the end of April remained steady at $192 million. This suggests that the campaign is spending nearly as much as it is earning.
To illustrate this, on June 13, the campaign launched an ad campaign focusing on “lowering costs for food and rent.” Notably, running campaign ads in a state like California is not common.
Stars And The Economy
While some critics question the appropriateness of associating with rich celebrities, others argue differently. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chair, Mark Gonzalez, indicated that celebrities add value to the local economy and support well-paying union jobs.
He cited Biden’s claim of being the “most supportive union president in American history,” and argued that the film industry brings in significant taxes to Los Angeles.
Spotlight On Jimmy Kimmel
Kimmel’s fame has soared from radio to late-night TV. Having interviewed Biden on a somber note post a Texas school shooting, Kimmel brings a delicate blend of humor and serious talk. He fills an important role – appealing to younger voters.
Despite Kimmel’s controversial past, his name is now strongly linked to the campaign. Gonzalez highlighted Kimmel’s upbringing in the swing state of Nevada, suggesting he could hence appeal to Nevada voters. Additionally, Kimmel’s Californian status and his public spats with Trump also draw a fair share of attention.
Coming Attractions
What content Kimmel will choose to discuss with Biden remains to be seen. A hint from Biden’s camp suggests topics could range from democracy, abortion rights to Obamacare. This event holds potential to boost campaign coffers, with tickets selling for amounts ranging from $0 to $500,000 through donations.
However, Fox argues that while celebrities bring glamour to a campaign, they don’t necessarily add voters. It’s the issues of economy, safety, immigration and foreign affairs that sway voters. He recognizes this celebrity-politics mix is not new and draws parallels to the Ronald Reagan era and Marilyn Monroe crooning ‘Happy Birthday’ to JFK.
Stay tuned to this star-studded gathering, combining politics and Hollywood glamour, as Biden’s campaign bus rolls into Tinseltown this Saturday.