Kamala Harris’s campaign announced recently that it obtained $200 million in contributions since Biden stepped out of the race, surpassing Biden’s first-quarter results for the year, which is surprising considering the lack of enthusiasm from the populace.
Apparently, the majority of this sudden influx stemmed from first-time donors. It is questionable whether this event marks a genuine upturn in support for Harris, or just an unusual shift with primarily new donors jumping onto the bandwagon.
The campaign is also claiming an increase in volunteer numbers, reporting over 170,000 new sign-ups. However, it is uncertain whether these will translate into any meaningful, ground-level support or not.
Moreover, the campaign has plans to hold a fund-raising event in Houston this Wednesday, as claimed by a Times-reviewed invitation copy. Yet it begs the question of whether these financial acts can improve Harris’s popularity figures on the ground.
It’s not yet clear how the $200 million has been distributed between Harris’s campaign and various Democratic Party committees. Regardless, this sudden spike in campaign donations does seem a little bizarre when compared to the not-so-enthusiastic public sentiment.
Former President Donald Trump, despite his legal tribulations, secured nearly $53 million just one day post his conviction, outdoing Biden’s collections for the same period. This only goes to show how Biden’s supposed financial advantages were easily overridden.
The wave of backing for Harris comes amidst Democrats expressing their concern over Biden’s disastrous debate performance. Notwithstanding this, the Harris campaign has been attempting to downplay expectations, given it has the colossal job of maintaining this dubious enthusiasm till November.
Michael Tyler, a campaign spokesperson, infamously noted the ‘real momentum and energy’ for Harris, further stating the known fact that this election will be tightly contested and decided by a small group of voters in select states. This statement, however, seems to be more of an attempt to cushion a potential fall rather than an assertive claim of victory.
In an intriguing turn of events, Harris declared at a recent fundraiser, ‘We are the underdogs in this race.’ It’s unclear whether this was an unusual gesture of humility or an early admission of impending defeat.
Irrespective of the campaign’s somewhat convincing claims of newly acquired backing, the question remains whether this support can outlast the season of campaigns and result in an electoral triumph.
The recent reported financial gains of the Harris campaign, as well as Trump’s substantial donations post-conviction, challenge their respective standing in the ongoing political contest. The final outcome, however, depends not on monetary resources but on the public’s trust and faith.
While the Harris campaign may indulge in self-congratulatory declarations of considerable campaign money inflow, it is indisputable that her ascension has not ignited the Democratic base as much as they’d like to believe.
Playing on the role of an ‘underdog’ might help Harris turn the tables during the race. However, whether such stratagems will work or they will abase Harris’s existing stature, is something only the coming months will unfold.
Harris’s Unexpected $200M: Frothy Enthusiasm or Empty Contest? appeared first on Real News Now.
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