As President Joe Biden’s approval rating dropped to 38% (according to Reuters/Ipsos poll results released Wednesday) his campaign team is working to put together a fundraiser that capitalizes on the power of presidents past.
According to a report from NBC News, his campaign is working to recruit former President Barack Obama (who Biden served under as vice president) and former President Bill Clinton. Per the outlet, the event would be a “first-of-its-kind fundraiser.”
If plans move forward, the event would be held in March or April. That’s what four people familiar with the proposed plans told NBC. With the event, the campaign hopes to bring in fundraising, generate headlines and mobilize parts of the party who supported Obama and Clinton. If it is a success, an second event might also be held.
YouGov polling lists Obama as the most popular Democrat politician in the U.S., with a popularity rating of 63%. Clinton came in third, with a popularity rating of 51%, and Biden is fifth with a popularity rating of 48%.
During their presidencies, Obama had a low approval rating of 38% and Clinton had a low of 37%, according to Gallup. Overall, Obama’s average approval rating was 48% and Clinton’s was 55%, while Biden’s term average to date has been 43%
“President Joe Biden’s approval rating declined in January as Americans worried about the economy and immigration while the Democrat ramps up his reelection campaign,” said Reuters Wednesday. Issues at the border and concerns about war in Ukraine and the Middle East have also been adding stress to the president’s reelection campaign.
Most of all, Democrats are nervous about another term for former President Donald Trump, who has maintained a strong position as the GOP candidate frontrunners despite heaps of legal issues. Only one GOP challenger – former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley – remains in the race with Trump.
While Trump is popular in the GOP, his overall YouGov popularity is lower than any of the Democrats at 41%. Gallup polling showed that his term average approval rating was also at 41% and his low was 34%.
NBC said the Democrat all-stars event plan “underscores the belief among Biden allies that the party needs an all-hands-on-deck approach to help him win a second term,” and is one way they hope to gear up for a general election “they view as having the highest of stakes.”
“There is real focus and urgency around making sure we beat Trump,” a Biden adviser said, according to NBC. “Everyone is all in. And this kind of event early on is just the latest demonstration of that.”
Per the outlet, the Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment on the event. Spokespeople for Clinton and Obama also declined to comment.
“What Democrats see as a party show of force, however, could be viewed differently by some voters who helped Biden win in 2020, such as moderate Republicans,” NBC noted. “Clinton and Obama have been lightning rods for the GOP, and Clinton has faced criticism from some Democrats in recent years over the handling of allegations of sexual misconduct that were made against him in the 1990s.”
With plans for the event in the works, some more good news for Biden came out this week. Quinnipiac University poll results released Wednesday found that he held 50-44 lead over Trump in a hypothetical general election matchup.