 Even before Biden made remarks at the George Clooney fundraiser, whispers of concern rippled through the audience at the Peacock Theater about the president who had just arrived from a long flight from Italy. He was less cogent than usual, said one attendee, who was surprised that during a smaller meeting with donors before the main event, Biden barely spoke. Instead, this person said he left virtually all of the talk to former President Barack Obama, which struck some guests as unusual for a loquacious politician like Biden.