VP Harris hits the road for fundraising amid continued calls for Biden to withdraw from race – News

Thirty-five Democrats in Congress have now publicly called on the president to withdraw after the June 27 debate against Trump

By Reuters

Published: Sun Jul 21 2024, 11:05 am

US Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday called for President Joe Biden’s re-election at a fundraising event in Massachusetts, despite continued pressure from party members and major donors seeking to end his battered campaign.

“We’re going to win this election,” Harris said. “It’s not going to be easy, but we’re a group of people who understand that anything worthwhile takes hard work.”

While Harris alluded to the turmoil that has plagued Biden’s candidacy since his poor performance in last month’s debates, she did not reference calls for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race.

The fundraiser drew 1,000 people and raised more than $2 million, according to the host, celebrity wedding planner Bryan Rafanelli. A-listers and singers including Jennifer Coolidge, Billy Porter and Darren Criss were expected to attend.

Biden and his top advisers vowed Friday to press ahead with his presidential campaign against Republican nominee Donald Trump, even as major donors signaled they were unwilling to open their checkbooks unless the 81-year-old president steps down.

The crisis of confidence in Biden’s ability to win the Nov. 5 election has focused attention on Harris, who is widely seen as the most likely replacement if he leaves office.

Harris’ fundraising events have become increasingly popular among donors who want to show they’re united around her potential White House bid, according to three Democratic fundraisers.

On Saturday in Provincetown, Harris condemned the extremism and intolerance that she said characterizes Trump’s vision for America.

“Right now, those freedoms are under full attack in our country,” she said. “White supremacists have shown up at pride festivals armed with assault weapons. … We’re seeing extremists fan the flames of hate and homophobia for political gain.”

“Go get him, Kamala!” someone shouted, prompting a wave of cheers.

With speculation mounting that Harris could soon replace Biden as the Democratic Party’s nominee, she has expressed her full support for his entry into the race.

“He’s fighting for the American people,” she said Saturday.

Thirty-five Democrats in Congress, representing more than 10% of the party’s membership in Congress, have now publicly called on Biden, who is isolating at his Delaware home due to Covid-19, to withdraw after the June 27 debate against Trump.

The debate raised serious concerns within the party about Biden’s ability to win the election or serve another four years in office.

Biden’s doctor said Saturday that the president still has mild symptoms of Covid-19 but that his condition is steadily improving.

Biden’s campaign had hoped to raise about $50 million for the Biden Victory Fund in July, but the campaign was not on track to raise even half that amount on Friday, according to two sources familiar with the fundraising.

The campaign called reports of a fundraising slump in July exaggerated, noting that it expected a drop in large donations due to the holidays. It said the campaign still has 10 fundraisers planned for this month.