Joe Biden stops in Portland for fundraiser, talks foreign politics and Trump

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a rally

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden addresses the Santa Clarita, Calif., shooting at Saugus High School, during a campaign rally at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in Los Angeles Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)AP

In his latest stop on the campaign trail, former Vice President Joe Biden held a small private fundraiser in Portland on Saturday, gathering money and momentum to head into the 2020 presidential race.

Portland supporters paid $1,000 as a “guest,” $2,800 as a “sponsor” or $10,000 to co-chair the event. The larger donations included a photo opportunity with the Democratic presidential hopeful. About 110 people attended the fundraiser, said Biden’s press secretary Meghan Hays.

Biden came to Oregon after a pair of private fundraisers in Seattle, including one at the home of David Zapolsky, Amazon’s general counsel and senior vice president. Admission to the Zapolsky event was set at $2,800 per person, according to an invitation.

There, Biden faced protesters criticizing the Seattle tech company’s campaign spending.

But Biden faced no criticism at Saturday’s event -- just rounds of applause and shouts as he made a slew of political points to the crowd.

Hosted by Tin House co-founder Win McCormack and Democratic political consultant Carol Butler, Butler introduced Biden to the crowd.

Biden spoke on a wide array of points, including what he sees as America’s weakened political clout with foreign powers, the potential dissolution of NATO and the dangers of climate change. But Biden wove a common thread throughout his comments -- his condemnation of President Donald Trump’s leadership.

“This is the most corrupt president in modern American history, maybe in American history,” Biden said during his opening comments.

Biden, who was recently campaigning in California, recalled being just 10 miles from where a shooting at a high school in Santa Clarita left two teens dead on Wednesday. Biden said that a student at the school asked, “What kind of world is this?” following the shooting. To Biden, it was an apropos question, he said.

“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to suggest that. What kind of world, what kind of country have we become?” Biden asked the crowd.

The Democratic hopeful then dove into international politics, citing Trump’s weakened grip on foreign control and the “imminent” possible dissolution of NATO. Biden said “thousands" of fake news "bots” were placed on the internet by the influence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Our president stood there on the world stage and looked at Putin and said, ‘I believe him. He did not interfere in our elections, is not now. And I disregard the advice of the 18 intelligence agencies who work for us,'" Biden said. "Now that not only makes us look foolish, but think of what it does to our standing in the world with our allies.”

He went on to heavily criticize Trump’s decision to pull American forces from northeastern Syria and allow Turkey access across the border.

“It’s an open highway. Russia is occupying our military bases," Biden said. “Now, you want to hang a 100-by-200-foot poster that’s a recruiting poster for ISIS -- that’s the one.”

As his talk turned to domestic issues, Biden recalled the era of the civil rights movement, saying he thought the U.S. had been healing from divided times.

But, he said of Trump, “[f]rom the moment this man became president, he decided that what he was going to do was just fundamentally divide Americans based on race, ethnicity, religion."

Biden then touched on more domestic issues, including climate change, education and rebuilding the middle class.

“Wall Street investment banking didn’t build America," Biden said. “The middle class built America. And unions built the middle class.”

Biden said more money is needed for poorly funded public schools, saying an influx of money raising teaching salaries would bolster teaching forces and ultimately benefit America’s children.

Hosts at the event included Columbia Sportswear attorney Peter Bragdon and spokeswoman Mary Ellen Glynn, Lines for Life chief executive Dwight Holton, Oregon Historical Society Director Kerry Tymchuk, Portland attorney Amy Margolis and Michael and Alice Powell, of Powell’s Books.

Oregon real estate developer and philanthropist Jordan Schnitzer also came out to support Biden.

“There are a number of good Democratic candidates,” Schnitzer said. “Few of them have the experience that he has. And I think this is a critical time when it is difficult to imagine someone learning on the job with how complex the geopolitical issues are.”

Biden said the next president will inherit a divided nation and a world in disarray. "There’s no time for on the job training,” he said.

Biden is the fourth candidate for president to make a public appearance this year in Oregon. In June, Andrew Yang held two fundraisers in Portland. Pete Buttigieg followed in July, then Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey in August.

Biden has made nine fundraising trips to California since entering the race in late April, visiting at least once a month. He has headlined more than 20 fundraisers in the state, raising money at the homes of Hollywood executives, Silicon Valley tech leaders and other affluent Democrats. Since joining the race, Biden has raised at least $4.7 million from Californians, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures in October of donors who have contributed at least $200.

In Oregon, Biden’s campaign has so far reported raising less than $78,000 from 214 Oregonians, according to federal campaign filings.

Oregonian reporter Molly Young, the Associated Press and Tribune News Service contributed to this report.

-- Emily Goodykoontz; 503-221-6652; egoodykoontz@oregonian.com

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