US Vice President Kamala Harris’s election campaign announced on Sunday that it has raised $200 million and signed up 170,000 new volunteers in the week since she became a presidential candidate. This surge in support follows President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection bid and endorse Harris for the upcoming November election against Republican former President Donald Trump.
“In the week since we got started, @KamalaHarris has raised $200 million dollars. 66% of that is from new donors. We’ve signed up 170,000 new volunteers,” Harris’ deputy campaign manager, Rob Flaherty, posted on X.
Harris has secured the backing of a majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention, positioning her to become the party’s nominee for president next month. Biden withdrew from the race amid concerns about his age and health following a lackluster debate performance against Trump in late June. He has pledged to remain in office until the end of his term on January 20, 2025.
Harris, the first Black woman and first Asian American to serve as vice president, raised her first $100 million within 36 hours of Biden’s announcement, according to her office. Her campaign has been revitalized, overcoming earlier doubts about Biden’s prospects against Trump and his capacity to govern if re-elected.
Mitch Landrieu, a campaign co-chair, described Harris’s week as one of the most successful in recent political history. “This is going to be a very close race,” he said in an interview on MSNBC.
The Harris campaign’s rapid fundraising and volunteer mobilization underscore the enthusiasm and momentum behind her bid for the White House.