Harris raises $200mln, gets 170,000 volunteers in first campaign week

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
29 Jul 2024 15:52

The vice president's campaign reported "unprecedented grassroots support," with approximately 66% of the funds raised coming from first-time donors.

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Vice President Kamala Harris speaks from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 22, 2024, during an event with NCAA college athletes. (AP)

Since Joe Biden's endorsement, Kamala Harris has raised $200 million. This surge in funding indicates increased enthusiasm for her campaign.

The Harris for President campaign reported that approximately 66% of the total contributions came from first-time donors, reflecting what they described as “unprecedented grassroots support.”

On Sunday, former vice president and climate activist Al Gore endorsed Harris. Additionally, more than 170,000 volunteers have signed up to support her campaign through phone banking, canvassing, and other get-out-the-vote efforts, said Michael Tyler, the campaign’s communications director.

“Vice-President Harris has been a candidate for less than a week, but she’s already coalesced the entire Democratic party around her campaign and the organic, grassroots enthusiasm is producing results,” Tyler said.

“From record-breaking fundraising to unprecedented crowds and volunteers pouring into field offices across the battlegrounds, Team Harris is fired up to elect the vice-president and defeat the extremist Trump-Vance ticket.”

This follows Harris's record-breaking $81 million raised 24 hours after Biden endorsed her, cementing her position as the likely Democratic presidential nominee.

Spike in Harris' donations

The latest donation news came after Harris attended a fundraiser in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on Saturday. Originally planned when Biden was still the presumptive nominee, the event was expected to raise $400,000 but ended up generating approximately $1.4 million, according to the Harris campaign.

Future Forward, the largest Super PAC in Democratic politics, announced last week that it secured $150 million in donations within the first 24 hours after Biden dropped out of the race.

Another Harris endorser, Al Gore, who served as vice president under Bill Clinton, announced his support on Sunday, increasing Harris' environmental credentials.

“As a prosecutor, Kamala Harris took on Big Oil companies – and won. As vice president, she cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the most significant investment in climate solutions in history, the Inflation Reduction Act. That’s the kind of climate champion we need in the White House,” Gore said in a statement.

“With so much at stake in this year’s election – from strengthening democracy in the US and abroad, to expanding opportunity for the American people, to accelerating climate action – I’m proud to endorse Kamala Harris for president.”