Clinton, Buttigieg among Democrats set to hold virtual events for Biden

A number of high-profile Democrats are set to hold events for the party’s presidential candidate, Joe Biden, in the coming weeks as the race against President Trump heats up. 

Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is set to host a virtual reception for Biden on July 9, according to an email from a Biden delegate obtained by The Hill. 

A number of former 2020 Democratic contenders are also slated to hold events for the former vice president, including former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg on July 7; Andrew Yang on July 17; and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) on June 29. 

Other political figures set to take part in the events include Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) on July 17 and former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards on June 29.

Biden is also expected to be joined by celebrities, including “Star Wars” star Mark Hamill on June 30 and musician Willie Nelson on June 29. 

The announcement comes after former President Obama joined Biden for a fundraiser on Tuesday, raking in more than $11 million. Additionally, Obama made news during the event, referring to Trump as “shambolic” and “mean spirited.”

“What we have seen over the last couple of years is a White House enabled by Republicans in Congress and a media structure that supports them that has not just differed in terms of policy but has gone at the very foundations of who we are and who we should be,” Obama said. 

Biden leads Trump in a number of state and national level polls. The RealClearPolitics polling average shows Biden up 10.1 points. 

The fundraising contest has also ramped up between the two campaigns. Trump and the Republican National Committee (RNC) brought in a combined record $74 million in May, but still fell behind Biden and the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) combined haul of $81 million.

The president and the RNC had about $265 million cash on hand at the beginning of June, while the Biden campaign and the DNC had roughly $130 million.