Obama returns to the campaign trail with first event for Harris
By
Naomi Lim
September 20, 2024 6:00 am
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Former President Barack Obama is returning to the campaign trail for Vice President Kamala Harris, using his popularity among Democrats to host a high-dollar fundraiser for her on Friday in Los Angeles.
The fundraiser marks Obama’s political return to the City of Angels months after he hosted a similar event there for President Joe Biden. A recording of Obama helping Biden off the stage after it, in addition to co-host actor George Clooney’s op-ed following Biden’s debate against former President Donald Trump, contributed to the pressure campaign mounted on the incumbent to step down.
Obama’s fundraiser, which will raise money for the Harris campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and Democratic state parties around the country, is the former president’s first campaign event for Harris, aside from his appearance last month at the Democratic National Convention. It comes as the Harris campaign simultaneously embraces Obama, while putting distance between him and the vice president, though the former president is expected to start holding rallies next month for Harris and down-ballot candidates.
Tickets for Obama’s fundraiser, co-hosted by former Obama ambassador to Spain James Costos and designer Michael Smith, range from $50,000 to $250,000. The evening fundraiser coincides with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton‘s own first event for Harris, a lunchtime fundraiser on the same day in the same city. Actors Jamie Lee Curtis and Sally Field are anticipated to be at Clinton’s fundraiser.
“This is a full, you know, hands-on-deck moment,” Clinton told MSNBC Thursday. “You never know what might influence somebody in their voting.”
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3159457/obama-returns-campaign-trail-harris/
