HONOLULU (AP) — David Letterman will appear at a fundraiser for President Joe Biden alongside Hawaii Gov. Josh Green in 10 days, a sign that his campaign is forging ahead despite ongoing calls for the president to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.
Greene told The Associated Press on Friday that the July 29 fundraiser will be held at the home of a family friend in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. The event will feature appearances from the longtime late-night TV host as well as Biden and first lady Jill Biden. The campaign has scheduled at least 10 fundraisers for the last 10 days of July.
Letterman hosted CBS’ “Late Show” for 22 seasons. The event comes as other celebrities, including George Clooney, director Rob Reiner and Stephen King, have called for Biden to drop out of the 2024 race following his dismal performance in the June 27 debate. There have also been growing concerns about continuing fundraising support after anxious donors expressed serious concerns about Biden’s performance and the party’s future.
Biden maintains he is the best person to defeat Donald Trump and has no plans to step down. Biden, who is recovering from COVID-19 at his Rehoboth Beach home, on Friday called for party unity and sought to return focus to Donald Trump’s policies.
He said he looks forward to returning to the campaign trail next week to challenge Republicans’ claims, “but also to selling my record of achievement and the vision I have for America – a vision to defend our democracy, protect our rights and freedoms and create opportunity for all.”
“The stakes are high and the choice is clear,” he said. “Together, we will prevail.”
Greene is hosting the event as a growing number of lawmakers are raising doubts about Biden’s candidacy. A person familiar with the plans initially told The Associated Press that the fundraiser would be held at Greene’s home, but Greene later clarified that it would be at the home of a family friend. Greene has known Biden’s family for years and her wife’s uncle was Biden’s college roommate. Greene said the decision to drop out of the race must be made by Biden himself.
“I stand with the president, the vice president and the Democratic Party in good times and bad because he’s stood with us as a family and as a state,” Greene told The Associated Press.
Greene has been Hawaii’s governor since 2022 and has led the state through last summer’s devastating wildfires.
