Thread by @alexburnsNYT

NEW: How Joe Biden’s $200,000 speech helped rescue a powerful Republican in Michigan

A former VP, a lucrative speaking gig on GOP turf and a lawmaker who both championed funding for cancer research — and helped devise a bill gutting Obamacare

nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/…

Biden worked w/Upton in 2016 on medical research funding. People involved in the event said Upton had no role in Biden's invitation.

But an Upton family foundation helps underwrite the speaker series & VP's contract specifies it would be an R-heavy crowd.
nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/…

Local Dems were stunned by VP's remarks, as was Upton. Upton referenced them in a debate & they appeared in GOP advertising.

Dem county chair who attended speech pleaded w/Biden aide – w/o success – to get the VP to back Upton's challenger, @MattLongjohn. nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/…

The episode captures so many of the dynamics swirling around Biden as he weighs a 2020 decision, including his aspiration to restore a golden age of bipartisanship, his genuine affection for some Rs & his efforts to amass wealth after leaving office
nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/…

It also gives us our 1st rough estimate of what Biden has earned in paid speeches. His fee in Michigan was $150k plus a $50k travel allowance. His reps at CAA previously offered a $100k rate to Univ of Utah, calling it a discounted college rate. nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/…

Biden aides wouldn't address whether those are standard rates for college and non-college paid speaking. But if they were – and that's a big if – he would have earned somewhere between $4-5 million in speaking fees since leaving office. nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/…

Here's an Upton campaign mailer (left) and a pro-Upton group's digital advertising (right) using Biden's remarks