President Joe Biden touched down in San Francisco on Wednesday, continuing a fundraising marathon that brings him to the Bay Area amid swirling questions about his age and performance. As per KRON, the President is set to attend private events in San Francisco and Los Altos Hills, following a Los Angeles stint where he combatted concerns head-on, jokingly dismissing questions about his agility, “I might not run as fast as I once did, but I've been around long enough to know what’s going on in Washington D.C.”
Biden’s haul of $42 million in January suggests donors are not deterred by the commentary circling his capabilities. Yet, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, some Democrats are toying with an alternative plan, inquiring about California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a potential replacement. Biden nonchalantly dismissed the idea, quipping to a reporter, “Are you ready? I’m looking to quickly change the subject—I’m looking at you."
The President is in California for the fifth time in just half a year, signaling the state's critical role as a financial powerhouse for Democratic campaigns. Engagement with affluent party supporters is slated, with a swanky soirée hosted by the Getty family in San Francisco, where guests might drop as much as $100,000 for attendance, as Puck News notes.
Thursday will see Biden at another fundraiser in Los Altos Hills, where tickets range from $6,600 to the upper tier of $100,000—with a steep $25,000 tag for a photo opportunity with the President. These events follow critical remarks by Special Counsel Robert Hur, who is quoted to have characterized Biden as a "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory." Despite this portrayal, Biden's campaign maintains a significant financial advantage with $130 million cash, dwarfing Trump's reported $33.1 million. Biden is scheduled to leave the Bay Area on Thursday and has no public events lined up during his visit.