If FLOTUS Headlines a Fundraiser and Only a Handful of People Attend, Does It Make a Sound?

By Susie Moore | 8:35 PM on April 09, 2024

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While her husband campaigned in Madison, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois, on Monday, First Lady Jill Biden made a late afternoon jaunt to St. Louis, Missouri, to headline a fundraiser in support of President Joe Biden's reelection.

The event was hosted by veteran Democrat operative Joyce Aboussie at her home in Ladue (a "well-to-do" St. Louis suburb).

LADUE — First lady Jill Biden headlined a reelection fundraiser here Monday, urging a roomful of supporters to do what they can to keep her husband in the White House and former President Donald Trump out of it.
...
The first lady’s appearance in the well-to-do St. Louis suburbs came in service of the Biden Victory Fund, a joint effort of President Biden’s reelection campaign and the national and state Democratic parties. Such fundraisers are critical to affording the ever-growing cost of White House runs, and the Biden campaign has made a point of outraising Trump this year in hopes of converting a cash advantage into an edge at the polls.

With most eyes in the region focused on the solar eclipse Monday afternoon, the FLOTUS visit flew a bit under the radar. Still, one would think there'd be a healthy appetite for the opportunity to rub elbows with the first lady.

While most Missourians were focused Monday on the eclipse, First Lady Jill Biden was in Ladue raising $$ at the home of vet Dem operative Joyce Aboussie. Retired US Rep. Richard Gephardt also was on hand, according to the Post-Dispatch pool report..No word on the money tally.
— Jo Mannies (@jmannies) April 9, 2024

As indicated in the tweet above, the amount raised at the fundraiser is not yet known. It's a pretty safe bet that it won't approach the level raised by Joe Biden at his swanky New York fundraiser, headlined by his Democrat predecessors, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, though. That one, per reports, netted roughly $26 million.

Undoubtedly, it had a few more attendees, as well. Monday night's fundraiser attendance? Roughly 30.

Monday’s event was held at the home of Joyce Aboussie, the longtime Democratic operative and former top aide to U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt.
Roughly 30 people attended, including some familiar faces such as Gephardt and former Build-A-Bear CEO Maxine Clark.

Now, admittedly, it was at a private residence — then again, so was the Trump event in Palm Beach on Saturday (which netted over $50 million).

As veteran Missouri political operative Gregg Keller told RedState:

In the world of Presidential campaign politics, 30 people for an event in St. Louis with the First Lady is a fireable offense. In the Biden campaign’s defense - and as this turnout shows - there’s very little appetite for the Biden’s in Missouri.

Jill Biden came to #STL yesterday for a fundraiser. Only 30 people showed up. #moleg #mogov #mosen https://t.co/O7PZtOmmiH
— Gregg Keller (@RGreggKeller) April 9, 2024