President Biden and Jill hosted a state dinner at the White House for the President of Kenya, William Ruto, and his wife, Rachel, along with three of their daughters. 

The last two Democrat presidents showed up to help Biden's re-election campaign with a show of unity. Biden's re-election campaign is not going well and he needs all the help he can get. The guest list was a reflection of that.

Former President Obama was a surprise guest. He was not on the official guest list that was released before the dinner. I did ponder if he would be there, though, because it would be a natural assumption, given Obama's Kenyan ancestry. 

Bill and Hillary Clinton were there. The three amigos - Biden, Obama, and Clinton - were back together doing their part to show party unity. That is important, especially this election cycle, as the Democrat Party is so fractured. 

An interesting tidbit is that Obama showed up and then left before Biden delivered his dinner speech. It's like he was making it clear that he wasn't really interested in being there but he made an appearance for Biden. 

This was the sixth state dinner hosted at the Biden White House. The guest list was politically strategic. There was a focus on people who Biden needed to bring together to win re-election. 

Biden offered a toast taken from a speech by former President Jimmy Carter, who hosted a state dinner to honor Kenya in 1980. “Neighbors do not share a border but share beliefs.” Bold move. The open southern border is a huge obstacle to Biden's re-election. Was it wise to bring borders up? Biden is the worst president since Carter. 

Hunter Biden and his wife were there, as were some of the Biden granddaughters. 

The guest list included elected officials in battleground states, black political operatives, and philanthropists like Melinda French Gates. Biden is polling behind Trump in all the battleground states except Wisconsin where they are tied. Biden is losing support among black voters, especially black men. Longtime Democrat strategist Donna Brazile was a guest. 

Choosing their guests, the president and Jill Biden, the first lady, mixed supporters of the president’s re-election effort with several Biden family members — granddaughters and Mr. Biden’s son Hunter, who is scheduled to stand trial on gun charges next month. (Hunter Biden’s wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, walked the red carpet alone.) There were few Hollywood types, though one notable attendee was the actor Sean Penn. Mr. Penn was photographed by the gossip website TMZ as he spent time with Hunter Biden, who has been working on a documentary about his life, in California earlier this month.

And then there was a lengthy list of members of the administration, including Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, whose Department of Justice charged the younger Mr. Biden with tax fraud in December. The Bidens designed a similarly fraught guest list almost a year ago, when Hunter Biden attended the state dinner in honor of India.

LeVar Burton, a former “Star Trek” officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise and a onetime host of the PBS literacy-building program “Reading Rainbow,” was asked by reporters to use a single word to describe the political climate.

“Just one? Can I swear?” asked Mr. Burton, a national treasure. “I will say it is fraught, indeed. With possibility. That’s three words.”

The list doesn't scream good time if you ask me. The mayors of Charlotte, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Augusta, and Atlanta were there, all from battleground states. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) was the only Republican invited. 

Country singer Brad Paisley provided the entertainment. His wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, attended. Paisley has performed for Biden events during his time in the White House, as well as events with Jill Biden. 

The commissioner of the NBA told reporters that the White House should rebuild its basketball court. Priorities. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell bypassed the press. 

The dinner was held in a glass-ceilinged pavilion erected on the White House’s South Lawn. 

Obama met with the Kenyan president earlier in the day at Blair House. He stepped on Ruto's foot as he went in for a hug. The two are reported to have spoken about climate change, of course, and security challenges in Africa. 

Biden mentioned Obama's early departure during his toast. Heh.

“Jill and I are honored to have you here,” the president said to Ruto, as well as “many members of the African diaspora. One just left. Barack.” The crowd laughed.

It looks like Obama may want to help out Biden for re-election but not enough to devote an evening to it. Interestingly, Obama didn't host an African country for a state dinner when he was in the White House. The last one was hosted by former President George W. Bush and it honored Ghana in 2008. Bush honored Kenya with a state dinner in 2003. 

I wonder if Hunter came away with any new business deals for the Biden crime family. This dinner was his second state dinner with The Big Guy. 

Biden hasn't kept his promise to visit Africa and time is running out. Last night he said, “I plan on going in February after I’m re-elected.” Hold that thought, Joe. 

The important people showed up to support Biden - Obama and Clinton. Look for the three amigos to come together more often as election day grows closer. Biden can't get over the finish line on his own. He has to depend on a little help from his friends to motivate voters to show up in November. Clinton's star power has waned but Obama still draws a big crowd.