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Kamala Harris announcement sees Democrat fundraising surge by record $46.7m in the first seven hours after Biden dropped out of Presidential race as donors flock back to the party and endorsements roll
Small donors have contributed a whopping $46.7 million to Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign in the seven hours since President Joe Biden shocked the world by announcing he would not be standing in the 2024 election.
The figures, announced by the Democratic Party's fundraising arm, ActBlue, mean that Harris, 59, has broken the record for most money raised during this election cycle.
'This has been the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle. Small-dollar donors are fired up and ready to take on this election,' the group said in a post on X.
Harris is not officially the party's nominee, but has already earned the endorsement of Biden, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic kingmaker George Soros.
'Tough. Fearless. Tenacious. With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America's Vice President, Kamala Harris,' Newsome wrote in his endorsement on X.
Vice President Kamala Harris has been raising money hand-over-fist as she attempts to secure the nomination to succeed President Joe Biden
Two possible outsider candidates, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg have already endorsed Harris
There are also reports that Democratic Party kingmaker, George Soros, is behind Harris
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are arguably the two most high profile party elders to back Harris
In addition the money raised in the hours after Biden's decision, The Wall Street Journal reports that Harris will also have access to the moneys raised by the Biden/Harris 2024 campaign, close to $100 million.
On Saturday, Federal Election Commission filings showed that ex-President Donald Trump and his running mate Senator JD Vance have raised $128 million.
The Journal later reported that GOP operatives are likely to contest Harris' access to the cash raised by Biden.
Odds on Harris defeating Trump have been slashed to around 12/5, down from an astonishing 100/1 in February. The Republican nominee remains the favorite to win the election with odds of 4/6.
Despite the high-profile endorsements, Harris is likely to still seek the support of former President Barack Obama, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The New York Times reports that Obama's lack of endorsement in a letter reacting to Biden's announcement was not a slight against Harris but rather typical of his stance at this stage of the process.
The former Illinois senator was slow to endorse Biden, his vice president, in 2020, famously stating: 'I don't want to thumb the scale.'
Harris spoke multiple times with Biden on Sunday, according to people familiar with the conversations – a day after Biden huddled with his closest aides in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, as he began to conclude that he would end his reelection bid.
Harris has yet to be endorsed by former President Barack Obama
About two hours after the surprise Sunday announcement from Biden, Harris released her own statement, making it clear she knew the nomination would not just be handed to her.
'I am honored to have the President's endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,' Harris said.
'Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead.'
Then Harris quickly got to work. She spent much of Sunday afternoon calling Democratic elected officials and delegates as she worked to lock up her party's nomination. One call was with Schumer.
Another was with Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairwoman Nanette Barragan, who emphasized that she was 'all in' behind the vice president and urged donations on her behalf.
Barragán said she was caught in a moment of both sadness and excitement as she digested the news of Biden's withdrawal. But in her call with Harris, the vice president stressed to her: 'We're in this to win it.'
Harris also communicated that she preferred to forego a virtual roll call for the nomination process and instead hold a process that adheres to regular order.
'This is the moment for us to unite and coalesce around the vice president and focus around Donald Trump,' Barragán said.
Harris also spoke with Rep. Annie Kuster, who leads the New Democrat Coalition, an influential bloc of center-left lawmakers. Kuster endorsed Harris on Sunday afternoon.
Notably, a handful of men who had already been discussed as potential running mates for Harris -– Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly –- also swiftly issued statements endorsing her.
Aides to Shapiro and Cooper confirmed that Harris spoke with them Sunday afternoon. In her brief call with Cooper, the North Carolina governor told Harris that he was backing her to be the Democratic nominee, according to Cooper spokeswoman Sadie Weiner.
'Joe Biden is a great American, and we all owe him our immense gratitude for his service to our country as president, vice president, and senator,' Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., said. 'There is no better person than Vice President Harris for him to pass the baton to.'
But there were early signs that she may not be alone in the Democratic race. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who left the party earlier this year to become an independent, is considering re-registering as a Democrat to vie for the nomination against the vice president, according to Jonathan Kott, a longtime adviser to Manchin.