President Biden and the Democratic National Committee celebrated a fundraising success, raising over $97 million in the final three months of the previous year. The campaign’s total funds since its April launch until the end of 2023 amounted to $235 million, with $117 million in cash on hand, the highest for any Democratic candidate at this stage. The quarter saw contributions from more than 520,000 donors.
Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, emphasized the significance of grassroots enthusiasm and the message that the American people understand the crucial stakes for democracy in the 2024 election. Biden has consistently focused on defending democracy in his reelection bid, expressing concerns about Donald Trump and the “Make America Great Again” movement. As the GOP primary begins, with Trump as the early front-runner, the Biden campaign noted significant financial commitments from Trump and other primary competitors, including a $100 million advertising expenditure in Iowa alone.
President Biden visited Philadelphia on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s National Day of Service to support the food insecure. This marked his third visit to the state in less than two weeks and the third time he spent the holiday working with Philabundance, a regional nonprofit food bank. The president, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, joined volunteers in creating 5,000 nutritious backpack kits for children facing food insecurity in Greater Philadelphia. The kits included rice, cereal, oatmeal, granola bars, canned fruit, vegetables, fish or meat, shelf-stable milk, and juice. The visit caused road closures around the South Philadelphia sports complex between 11:30 a.m. and noon, potentially impacting traffic for the 1 p.m. 76ers game at the Wells Fargo Center.
President Joe Biden issued a statement congratulating President Bernardo Arévalo de León and Vice President Karin Herrera of Guatemala on their inauguration. He emphasized the deep ties between Guatemala and the United States, highlighting the event's historic nature as a testament to their shared commitment to democracy. President Biden expressed his anticipation of continuing a strong partnership, focusing on advancing human rights, strengthening civilian security, combating corruption, addressing migration's root causes, and expanding economic opportunities in the hemisphere and globally.
President Biden spent part of the Martin Luther King Jr holiday visiting Philabundance, a hunger relief organization in Philadelphia