Vice President Kamala Harris may be unfavorable in the eyes of more than half of Americans, but she remains a crucial component of President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.
And that means she can bring in the dollars Biden 2024 needs.
Kamala Harris Is Making Money for 2024 for Joe Biden
As a former California senator and attorney general, Kamala Harris is using her connections to Hollywood and Silicon Valley to garner large contributions for the campaign, as well as from Wall Street.
Businessmen Charles Myers and Phil Munger, Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry, and longtime Vogue editor Anna Wintour have all teamed up with Harris to raise campaign funds so far.
Kamala Harris has helped the Biden campaign raise $ 72 million in Q2 2023 alone, exceeding that of Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls. Her attendance at campaign receptions trump that of anyone within the campaign, including Biden himself.
Hosts are often forced to turn away guests, with one donor even requesting Harris speak at a reception they were hosting, so huge is her popularity among supporters.
“People want to see her, they want to meet her, they want to hear what she has to say,” Desiree Rogers, a former White House social secretary who co-hosted a Chicago fundraiser in July, told Bloomberg. “Had we had more space, we could have sold more tickets.”
Conservative Criticism of Kamala Harris
Harris’ nationwide popularity has been stagnant among the public.
A recent Economist/YouGov poll found 52% view her unfavorably and 39% favorably, compared to 55% and 42% respectively who said the same about President Biden.
Biden’s age, now 80 with the possibility of being 86 at the conclusion of a second term, has prompted many Republicans to suggest Harris will succeed Biden should he become incapable of performing his presidential duties. Nikki Haley, the only female candidate at last week’s Republican debate, said “any person on that stage is better than Kamala Harris” the day after the two-hour broadcast.
The possibility of President Harris is very real, and it’s likely GOP-led attacks will only amplify over the coming year.
Harris Democratic Support
Despite national criticism, Harris remains extremely popular among those within her party.
Since June, receptions at which Harris has attended have raised more than $2.5 million.
“She stayed there until she got to say hello to every single person. She’s a big draw,” said Alex Heckler, Democratic National Committee deputy national finance chair and a lawyer.
Her out-of-the-blue emergence into national politics may have got off to a shaky start, but her commitments as vice president are fewer and further between than the President. While Biden engages with world leaders, Harris is free to campaign and spread the Democrat message domestically.
When she speaks at these events, Harris focuses on issues important to Democrats – abortion, climate change and gun control are often topics she focuses on. It’s a message which resonates with young progressives, women, and people of color, which helps drive donations further.
She may be playing a role traditionally reserved for the incumbent president, but it’s one – at least financially – which appears to be working.
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
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