Following President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, Democratic donors are backing Vice President Harris as a candidate.
Major donors said they would support Harris, and others pledged to do the same within hours of Biden’s announcement.
“What we really need right now is some direction and some hope,” said one longtime Democratic fundraiser. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt more energized during this election cycle.”
Fundraisers said they had heard from dozens of donors Sunday afternoon saying they would support Harris if she becomes the Democratic nominee. Prior to Biden’s announcement, donors had frozen checks because of the uncertainty surrounding Biden, the fundraiser said.
“Nobody was willing to give a penny,” the treasurer said. “People were totally demoralized and depressed. Things seem to be turning around quickly.”
In interviews last week, some donors told The Hill they were leaning toward holding an open convention if Biden were to drop out of the race, and that view remained the same on Sunday, with some expressing a bit more optimism.
“I wish they would do a mini-process. They won’t,” said one prominent fundraiser.
“That would be Harris-Kelly,” the donor added, referring to Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
While some donors and fundraisers said Harris was likely to energize the Democratic base, they expressed concern about her ability to appeal to independents in key battleground states.
“Will she excite our base? Yes, but I’m not sure she has the power to mobilize other undecided voters,” one fundraiser said.
Another donor said holding an open convention “would bring a new level of excitement to the party.”
“I know some people think it will be an upset, and it may be, but I think it will inspire a lot of people and show the strength of the party. If Harris wins, that’s fine, but it shows that we can be adults and do what’s best for the party to beat Trump,” the donor said.
Democratic super PAC officials said they have also received positive feedback about Harris from donors.
“Every donor I’ve spoken to is supportive and ready to work,” the super PAC official said. Other Democratic groups, such as the Progressive Turnout Project, were also soliciting donations within hours.
On Sunday afternoon, the Biden campaign formally filed paperwork to change the name of its campaign committee to “Harris Campaign for President,” in what some donors say has been a smooth transition.
Some donors acknowledged that backing Harris was the smoothest choice. With time running out and just over 100 days until the election, they worried it might be too late to back other candidates.
“She’s already on the ticket, she’s been tested, and we really don’t have the luxury of time,” the second donor said. “We’re heading into August, and ideally this process would have happened a few months ago so we wouldn’t have to assemble the plane as we fly.”
One Democratic fundraiser who has long supported Harris said Sunday was a “very good day.”
“Donors who had been withholding donations literally wrote cheques today without even keeping their promise,” the fundraiser said.
Two Democratic fundraisers told The Hill on Sunday that donors are writing checks and rushing to support Harris. “There’s a big movement today,” one of the two donors said.
