Harris’s campaign breaks records as $200m raised in one week

With 170,000 volunteers surge the drive changing the dynamics of presidential race

WASHINGTON:

Kamala Harris's election campaign announced on Sunday that it has raised $200 million and enlisted 170,000 new volunteers within a week of her becoming the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. This development comes as Republicans continue to criticise Harris's tenure as vice president.

President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid last Sunday and endorsed Harris for the November 5 election against former President Donald Trump.

Harris's deputy campaign manager, Rob Flaherty, shared on X that 66% of the $200 million raised came from new donors, and 170,000 new volunteers had joined the campaign.

Recent polls, including one by Reuters/Ipsos, indicate a tight race between Harris and Trump, suggesting a closely contested campaign over the remaining 100 days until the election.

In early July, Trump’s campaign reported raising $331 million in the second quarter, surpassing the $264 million raised by Biden's campaign and its Democratic allies in the same period.

By the end of June, Trump’s campaign had $284.9 million in cash on hand, compared to the Democratic campaign's $240 million.

Harris has garnered support from a majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention, making her likely to secure the party's nomination for president next month. Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison confirmed on MSNBC that Harris is the presumptive nominee, with an official vote scheduled for August 1.

Biden's withdrawal from the race followed concerns about his age and health, exacerbated by a poor debate performance against Trump in late June. Biden has pledged to remain in office until his term concludes on January 20, 2025.

Harris's candidacy has revitalised a campaign that struggled due to doubts about Biden’s ability to defeat Trump or govern effectively if re-elected.

Before Harris entered the race, Trump had gained a lead over Biden, particularly in battleground states, following Biden's debate performance. However, Harris's entry has shifted the dynamics.

A New York Times/Siena College national poll published on Thursday indicated that Harris had closed what was previously a significant lead by Trump. A Wall Street Journal poll released on Friday showed Trump leading Harris by two percentage points, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll on July 23 indicated a two-point lead for Harris.

Republican attacks on Harris have intensified since she emerged as the likely Democratic nominee.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination before endorsing Trump, described Harris as "incredibly vapid" on Fox News and predicted that Democrats would spread "a blizzard of lies" to distance her from Biden administration policies.

DeSantis claimed that the Democrats would need to "whitewash Harris's background" to make her acceptable to the American public.

However, some Trump allies, including members of the "Black Americans for Trump" coalition, warned that disparaging Harris could undermine Trump's efforts to attract Black voters, a crucial demographic in the upcoming election.

Harris's campaign did not immediately respond to DeSantis's remarks. Mitch Landrieu, a campaign co-chair, stated on MSNBC that Harris had experienced "one of the best weeks that we've seen in politics in the last 50 years," highlighting the competitiveness of the race.

Trump's fundraising saw a significant boost following his conviction on felony charges related to a hush-money payment to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. Additionally, an assassination attempt against him earlier this month is also expected to enhance his campaign contributions.

The developments over the past week have set the stage for a highly competitive and closely watched presidential election, with both candidates preparing for an intense campaign period ahead.