money Tom Hanks, James Taylor And Other Hollywood Figures Headline Joe Biden Fundraisers During Convention Week
Much of the attention during this week’s virtual Democratic National Convention will be focused on primetime speeches and the moment when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris accept their party nomination.
But Biden’s campaign has lined up a series of fundraisers throughout the week, hoping to draw on the attention and the loss of a traditional convention, which is usually a prime opportunity to gather and woo party donors.
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Biden on Monday was holding a virtual fundraiser with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with a performance by Carole King, and his campaign is planning a series of events throughout this week.
On Tuesday, Biden and Tom Hanks are scheduled to appear at an afternoon event, according to an invite sent to supporters, as part of what is described as “Grassroots Fest,” or fundraisers geared to low-dollar donors. Also in the lineup is an event on Thursday featuring James Taylor and Harris’ husband, Douglas Emhoff. On Friday, Biden, Jill Biden, Harris and Emhoff are scheduled for another event. Proceeds go to the Biden Victory Fund, a joint committee of the Biden campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state parties.
Also planned for Tuesday evening, just before the convention proceedings begin, is a “virtual conversation” on “screenwriting the White House.” It will feature Eli Attie, writer for The West Wing; Etan Cohen, co-writer for Idiocracy; and David Mandel, the show runner for Veep. Jen Psaki, former White House communications director, will moderate. Tickets for the event start at $250, and proceeds also go to the Biden Victory Fund.
Also in the works is a Women for Biden event that will feature Harris, but a date and time has not been set. Next week, on Aug. 26, Will & Grace stars Eric McCormack and Debra Messing will moderate a virtual conversation with three congresswomen — Rep. Abby Finkenauer, Rep. Lucy McBath, and Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. On Sept. 8, Jill Biden and Jennifer Garner will headline a fundraiser.
At the Monday event, King sang I Feel the Earth Move and performed a partial sing-a-long of You’ve Got a Friend.
“A lot of people are feeling anxious and depressed in this time of, you know, unprecedented cruelty and chaos and willful incompetence,” King said to the participants, per a pool report. “And I know people think, ‘Well, I’m just one person—what can I do?’ Well, I’ll tell you what you can do. You can keep hope alive and don’t give up. If we all persist with love, hope and belief in the power of all of us, we will bring about better times and it’s Joe says build back better. We will get through this. And we will win.”
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