The epicenter of the presidential campaign shifted to New York on Thursday, as four presidents descended on the area for a celebration and a wake that illustrated the kinds of political clashes that could come to define the general election.
President Biden, along with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, arrived for a joint fund-raiser at Radio City Music Hall that campaign aides said raised $25 million. The eye-popping number set a record for a single political event, according to aides, and offered a star-studded show of Democratic unity as the president heads into a difficult re-election campaign.
Donald J. Trump, the former president and presumptive Republican nominee, made his own appearance in the area several hours earlier, at a funeral home on Long Island to visit with the family of a slain New York City police officer. His campaign used the stop to draw a sharp contrast with Mr. Biden, attacking the Democrats for spending their evening with donors and celebrities.
The high-profile dueling appearances represented an unusual moment in a general election campaign that has so far been largely defined by appearances in courtrooms and at small, invitation-only events. In recent weeks, Mr. Trump has spent far more time battling in court than in battleground states.
Mr. Biden, meanwhile, has increased the pace of his events since his State of the Union address early this month. But the fund-raiser, with an expected 5,000 donors, will be one of the largest crowds he has appeared before as president. It will expand an already significant cash advantage, too, raising in one night $5 million more than Mr. Trump reported collecting in February.
