US Vice President Kamala Harris advocated for President Joe Biden's re-election at a fundraiser in Massachusetts on Saturday, despite ongoing pressure from fellow Democrats and significant donors aiming to halt his faltering campaign. "We are going to win this election," Harris declared. "It won't be easy, but we are a group of people who understand that anything valuable requires hard work." Although she alluded to the chaos surrounding Biden's candidacy since his subpar debate performance last month, Harris did not address calls for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race.
The fundraiser, hosted by celebrity wedding planner Bryan Rafanelli, attracted 1,000 attendees and raised over $2 million. Celebrities and singers such as Jennifer Coolidge, Billy Porter, and Darren Criss were expected to attend. On Friday, Biden and his top advisors pledged to continue his presidential campaign against Republican candidate Donald Trump, despite major donors indicating they were reluctant to contribute unless the 81-year-old president stepped down.
The crisis of confidence in Biden's ability to win the November 5 election has significantly spotlighted Harris, widely considered the most likely replacement if he resigns. Harris's fundraising events have garnered increased interest from donors who wish to demonstrate their willingness to support her potential presidential bid, according to three Democratic fundraisers.
In Provincetown on Saturday, Harris condemned the extremism and intolerance she attributed to Trump's vision for America. "Right now, our country's freedoms are under full-on attack," she stated. "White supremacists have appeared at pride festivals armed with assault weapons.... We see extremists stoking the fires of hate and homophobia for political gain." A person shouted, "Go get him Kamala!" eliciting a wave of cheers.
As speculation has intensified that Harris might soon replace Biden as the Democratic Party's candidate, she has expressed her full support for him remaining in the race. "He's fighting for the American people," she said on Saturday. Thirty-five congressional Democrats, representing more than 10% of the party's members in Congress, have publicly urged Biden, who is isolating at his Delaware home with Covid-19, to withdraw following the June 27 debate against Trump.
The debate raised serious concerns within the party about Biden's ability to win the election or fulfill his duties for another four years. Biden's doctor reported on Saturday that the president still has mild Covid-19 symptoms but is steadily improving. Biden's campaign aimed to raise approximately $50 million in large donations in July for the Biden Victory Fund but was on track for less than half that amount as of Friday, according to two sources familiar with the fundraising efforts.
The campaign dismissed reports of a July fundraising slump as exaggerated, noting that a decline in large donations was expected due to vacations. It stated that the campaign still has 10 fundraisers scheduled for this month.
