Reid Hoffman, one of the most powerful Democratic donors, is raising money for Cory Booker

[Mosby]

Reid Hoffman is hosting a high-dollar fundraising event for Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) later this month, a coup for Booker and a revealing move by Hoffman, who has so far kept his cards close to his chest in the 2020 race.

Hoffman, one of the most closely watched donors in Democratic politics, is asking Silicon Valley givers to come to a dinner on May 17 in Portola Valley, California, Recode has learned. The event will be held at the home of Eileen Donahoe, a former ambassador and top fundraiser during the Clinton and Obama campaigns, and her husband, John Donahoe, the former CEO of eBay.

While a person familiar with Hoffman’s thinking said it is not meant to be an endorsement — Hoffman is expected to also financially back candidates like former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) as well — this is Hoffman’s first event for a presidential candidate this cycle. Hoffman’s team recognizes it will inevitably be read as a strong signal of whom Hoffman favors among the Democratic candidates. It isn’t clear if he’ll do fundraising events for other candidates.

I‘ve known Cory for a long time, and I believe he has the experience, bold solutions, and vision to win the nomination and the presidency,” Hoffman said in an email to donors seen by Recode. “It’s important that we elevate the best voices in the race. If you know Cory, you understand why I’m advocating for him. And if you haven’t had a chance to meet the Senator, you won’t be disappointed.”

https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/5/8/18537517/reid-hoffman-cory-booker-fundraiser-billionaire-donor

[Mosby]

1. Cory Booker takes a risk on gun control -- and it may pay off in campaign

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, one of the 21 Democrats running for president, has pitched an ambitious new proposal for gun control — and he deserves credit for its boldness. Booker says every gun owner should be required to apply for a federal license, a process that would include not only a background check, but also safety training and an interview.

Booker has struggled to stand out in a crowded field. He launched his campaign in February with an appeal for “universal love,” but Democrats made clear they want a fighter, not a lover. He offered novel ideas on criminal justice reform and “baby bonds” for low-income families, but those didn’t catch on either.

Now, with gun control, he may have found an idea he can make his own.

It’s an issue that connects to Booker’s powerful biography as a son of Newark, one of the country’s toughest cities. “I can’t stay away from this,” he said on Monday. “This is not some policy issue out there. [Gun violence] is an everyday experience to people like me.”

https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-booker-democrats-gun-control-20190508-story.html

[crazytown]

2. Good.

Senator Booker deserves more exposure.