Joe Biden taps Hollywood orbit for $28 million fundraiser, a new record for Democrats

Los Angeles (CNN) —& Joe Biden& has raised $28 million heading into a star-studded fundraiser Saturday, campaign officials& told& CNN, as& the president& leans on his Hollywood friends to help boost his campaign war chest. The president’s Los Angeles event with former President Barack Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts marks the campaign’s latest effort to tap into celebrity appeal to help Biden win a second term in the White House. The LA fundraiser sets a new record for Democrats, raising more than an event at Radio City Music Hall in March that Biden campaign officials said brought in the party’s biggest haul ever. The Biden campaign ran a contest geared toward small-dollar donors to win a chance to attend Saturday’s& fundraiser& and meet Biden, Obama, Roberts and Clooney, who all sent emails or texts encouraging supporters to chip in. The campaign has also provided grassroots supporters at home an opportunity to tune into the event virtually with a donation of $20 or more. “When you come up with an event like this, a concept like this,& you know it’s going to be big. You know it’s going to be exciting. You know it’s going to gather a lot of...