Having axed former RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel as a contributor, NBC’s Today returned Thursday to doing what the network does best: being fanboys and girls for their liberals. This time, they cheered President Biden’s upcoming attempt “to re-energize his re-election campaign with a star-studded campaign event” at Radio City Music Hall with former Presidents Clinton and Obama, CBS’s Late Show host Stephen Colbert, and celebrities such as Lizzo and Queen Latifah.
“Radio City rally. President Biden looking to re-energize his re-election campaign with a star-studded campaign event tonight,” beamed co-host Hoda Kotb in a tease, adding “a new national poll shows that Biden and Donald Trump are now locked in a dead heat.”
Accompanied by the chyron “Star-Studded Biden Fundraiser”, co-host Savannah Guthrie set-up senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez’s piece by boasting Biden is “looking to boost his re-election campaign” with a “major fundraising event tonight that will include former Presidents Obama and Clinton” and a “host of celebrity performers.”
Gutierrez read his talking points, fawning over what “[t]he Biden campaign” insists will be “a historic, first-of-its-kind event” that’s “expected to draw 5,000 people here at this iconic venue and rake in more than $25 million.”
After fretting Donald Trump “has his own plans” as if him being in New York is a nuisance, Gutierrez went back to ogling:
This morning, the Biden campaign is preparing to host a star-studded fundraiser with three Presidents Biden, Obama and Clinton in a conversation moderated by late-night host Stephen Colbert. The event also set to feature appearances by Lizzo, Queen Latifah and Ben Platt among other celebrities as Democrats set their sights on the general election.
He conceded Biden’s “poll numbers are ticking up, but still shaky” with Biden and Trump running neck-and-neck compared to Biden holding steady leads “[a]t this time in 2020”, which has meant they need Dear Leader Barack to save them and “tak[e] an increasingly active role in the campaign.”
Gutierrez threw a jab at Trump over ObamaCare before finally footnoting Trump’s New York visit is to “highlight violent crime in the city and...attend the wake of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed this week in the line of duty.”
Gutierrez couldn’t leave it there or say any more about Diller’s murder. Instead, Gutierrez had to pair what with Trump “escalat[ing] his attacks on the judge presiding over his hush money trial”.
The NBC correspondent concluded with more liberal fluff, celebrating the fact that “Democrats have outpaced Republicans when it comes to fundraising in recent months” and tickets for the Radio City Music Hall event going for anywhere between $250 and $500,000.
To see the relevant NBC transcript from March 28, click “expand.”
NBC’s Today
March 28, 2024
7:00 a.m. Eastern [TEASE][ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Radio City Rally]
HODA KOTB: Radio City rally. President Biden looking to re-energize his re-election campaign with a star-studded campaign event tonight. This as a new national poll show that Biden and Donald Trump are now locked in a dead heat. We’ll have the latest.
(....)
7:06 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Star-Studded Biden Fundraiser]
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: We turn now to the 2024 race. Both President Biden and Donald Trump will be in New York today. The President looking to boost his re-election campaign, major fundraising event tonight that will include former Presidents Obama and Clinton as well as of — host of celebrity performers. NBC’s senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez is just near us at Radio City Music Hall is where this event will be held. Gabe, good morning.
GABE GUTIERREZ: Hey there, Savannah, good morning. The Biden campaign is billing this as a historic, first-of-its-kind event. The event is expected to draw 5,000 people here at this iconic venue and rake in more than $25 million. But former President Trump has his own plans. This morning, the Biden campaign is preparing to host a star-studded fundraiser with three Presidents Biden, Obama and Clinton in a conversation moderated by late-night host Stephen Colbert. The event also set to feature appearances by Lizzo, Queen Latifah and Ben Platt among other celebrities as Democrats set their sights on the general election.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I’ve never been more optimistic about our future. And I know I’m only 40 years old times two, plus one.
GUTIERREZ: The President’s poll numbers are ticking up, but still shaky. At this time in 2020, Biden was leading Trump by an average of six points. Now, most polls show it’s a statistical tie or Trump lead, so the President and Vice President are ramping up their travel. Former President Obama is also taking an increasingly active role in the campaign.
BARACK OBAMA [on 03/23/24]: Right now, the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party for president says he wants to repeal the entirety of the ACA.
GUTIERREZ: Mr. Trump is firing back, says he doesn’t want to “terminate” it, just make it better even though he’s previously said repeatedly that he wanted to replace it.
TRUMP [on 06/11/16]: We’re repealing and replacing Obamacare.
GUTIRREZ: While the former President escalates his attacks on the judge presiding over his hush money trial in New York, he’s also trying to highlight violent crime in the city and planning to attend the wake of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed this week in the line of duty. Today, both candidates heading to high-profile events, another split-screen moment as the campaign intensifies. Meanwhile, Democrats have outpaced Republicans when it comes to fundraising in recent months. As for the fundraiser here tonight, the cheapest tickets have sold for $250, but the most expensive have gone to people who contributed up to $500,000. Savannah.
GUTHRIE: Alright, Gabe Gutierrez, Thank you very much.
