Vice President Kamala Harris held a brief conference call with the Democratic Party’s top donors on Friday, aimed at reassuring them of President Biden’s re-election prospects and his commitment to running for a second term. The call came amidst a flurry of reports suggesting that some Democratic lawmakers are calling for Biden to drop out of the race, and concerns among donors about the potential impact of this internal dissent on the campaign.
Harris, in her address to the approximately 300 donors, emphasized her unwavering belief in Biden’s ability to win the election. “We are going to win this election. We are going to win,” she declared, according to multiple reports. She highlighted Biden’s focus on the American people, contrasting him sharply with former President Donald Trump, whom she criticized for employing divisive rhetoric at the Republican National Convention.
“We know which candidate in this election puts the American people first: our President, Joe Biden,” Harris said in support of her running mate. She accused Trump of attempting to distract from his record and his “Project 2025 plan,” a reference to his policy agenda. “Can you believe they put it in writing? It is further empirical evidence that the stakes of this election couldn’t be higher,” she stated.
The call was intended to quell anxieties among party donors, who were reportedly concerned about the potential fallout from the growing dissent within the Democratic Party. However, some questioned the effectiveness of the communication, noting that Harris did not take questions from the donors following her short address.
Despite the internal pressure and calls for Biden to drop out, the White House has consistently maintained that the president is committed to running for re-election. Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon reaffirmed this stance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Friday, stating, “The president’s in this race. You’ve heard him say that time and time again.”
