Harris Raises $200M in Campaign’s First Week for 2024 Presidential Race
Washington – Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign takes off strongly, raising a whopping $200 million within the first week, thanks to a surge in new donors after President Joe Biden’s exit. The impressive fundraising haul triggered by Biden’s decision to stand aside for his Vice President as the Democratic ‘de facto’ nominee is a clear signal of the vast base of support Harris seeks to consolidate to triumph former President Donald Trump, the probable Republican nominee.
Harris Campaign Highlights Unprecedented New Donor Support
The Harris campaign, announcing its astonishing fundraising success on Sunday, pointed out that a staggering 66% of the donations in the 2024 election cycle were from first-time contributors. These contributions were made predominantly after Biden’s endorsement of Harris following his departure from the presidential race. Additionally, the campaign has enlisted a force of over 170,000 volunteers, ready to participate in phone banking, canvassing, and other critical get-out-the-vote activities. With only 100 days left until Election Day, the recently announced figures indicate a strong start for the vice presidential campaign.
Democrats Rally Behind Harris
Over the weekend, as Harris continued her campaign trail, her team staged over 2,300 organizing events in key battleground states. These events saw some notable Democrats, rumored to be potential running mates for Harris, lending their support. Harris’s campaign in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, managed to attract hundreds of supporters, showcasing her wide appeal. Moreover, the fundraiser event held at the location succeeded in generating approximately $1.4 million, exceeding its preliminary target of $400,000.
Trump’s Campaign Counter-Narrative
Responding to the successful launch of Harris’s campaign, Trump, alongside his running mate Sen. JD Vance, intensified their efforts to portray Harris as out of sync with the American mainstream. Trump, in a campaign appearance with Vance in St. Cloud, Minnesota, disparaged Harris as a “crazy liberal,” accused her of intending to “defund the police”, and branded her an “absolute radical” on abortion issues.
Harris Firm On Abortion Rights
Harris, a staunch advocate of abortion rights, stated unequivocally that combating Republican-led initiatives to limit reproductive rights would be a central objective of her campaign. Unfazed by the criticism from Republican rivals, Harris showed determined resilience during the opening week of her campaign.
Tensions in Mideast and Potential Impact on Election
The ongoing Middle East crisis has also featured as a significant issue in the early stages of the campaigns. The conflict has intensified recently with a missile attack on a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights escalating fears of an extensive regional war. Trump, at his Saturday rally, attributed the crisis to the weak leadership of the current administration and termed the incident as “another moment in history forced by a weak and ineffective United States president and vice president.” Harris’s rival, JD Vance, echoed similar sentiments on Sunday, criticizing Harris’s stance on the Middle East crisis.
Republicans Show Concern Over Harris’s Momentum
Despite the criticism, some Republicans, aware of the fresh spark Harris’s announcement has provided Democrats, have expressed concerns and called for a recalibration in Trump’s approach. A few have even suggested that Trump and Vance should avoid personal attacks on Harris and bring their focus back on relevant issues. They also stressed on steering clear of insults in their campaigns.