In an unprecedented show of support, Democratic donors have contributed a record amount to US Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign in the 24 hours following President Joe Biden’s decision to step down from the 2024 race and endorse her candidacy.
Harris’ campaign announced on Monday that it had raised $81 million in this short period, adding to its already substantial war chest of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars accumulated this election cycle. This achievement marks the “largest 24-hour raise in presidential history,” according to the campaign’s statement.
Following Biden’s endorsement on Sunday, Harris, 59, received swift backing from numerous Democrats, including prominent figures such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Despite this initial support, she still faces the challenge of convincing key hold-outs and some donors who favor an open contest for the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.
Nevertheless, Harris’ campaign has managed to galvanize both large and small donors, a notable turnaround from the period of uncertainty after Biden’s poor debate performance against Trump, which had led to a halt in major fundraising efforts.
Reports from US media on Monday revealed that the Democratic super political action committee (PAC) Future Forward secured $150 million in donor commitments within 24 hours of Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
The super PAC, which had $122 million in cash reserves as of the end of June, according to Federal Election Commission filings, is expected to play a significant role in supporting Harris’ campaign.
