With US president Joe Biden in recovery from a bout of Covid-19, Vice-President Kamala Harris has taken up the mantle of the campaign for re-election. This past week, she visited the key contested states of Michigan and North Carolina before taking centre stage at a high-profile fundraiser in Massachusetts on Saturday.
Amidst growing calls from a number of elected Democratic officials for her candidacy, Harris has emerged as the front runner. There are whispers of discontent among both voters and contributors about President Biden, leading to a stutter in the campaign’s fundraising drive.
At Saturday’s event, Harris attempted to boost waning support by reaching out to one of the Democrats most dependable backers, the LGBTQ+ community. Addressing a crowd of approximately 1,000 attendees in Provincetown, Massachusetts, she emphasised the importance of the fight against former president Donald Trump as a battle for the very survival of gay and transgender citizens in the US.
Urging a defence of freedom in her speech at the coastal resort town of Provincetown – considered a hub of gay life in America, Harris rallied for the right to openly express love, pride in one’s identity, protection from prejudice, intolerance and hatred, and essentially, the liberty to simply exist.
The fundraiser proved to be more successful than expected, raising over $2 million, a figure twice the original estimate according to event organisers.
The vice-president finds herself in a tricky situation, showing loyalty towards Biden while portraying readiness to ascend to the presidential position if circumstances demand. On Friday, a dialogue with Democratic donors left them with little confidence. Reports suggest a significant drop in substantial contributions to the Biden campaign this month.
Biden’s prognosis appears positive as he recovers from the virus at his Delaware holiday home, stated his physician in a recent correspondence released by the White House. He is set to return to the campaign trail in the coming week as per his staff.
At the recent fundraising event, Vice-President Harris refrained from commenting on Biden’s health or political challenges. Instead, she praised him as one of the most impactful US presidents and criticised Trump’s record on LGBTQ+ matters during his presidency. Her speech was occasionally punctuated by shouts of encouragement and admiration.
“The Democratic party has shown a split opinion on the subject of an open convention if Biden decides to step out of the race. Particularly, Black and Hispanic leaders and party members have been advocating for Harris to naturally take over from Biden. Preparations are in progress within Trump’s team to launch criticism against her.
Elizabeth Warren, a senator and Biden’s close associate, conveyed her thoughts on MSNBC on Saturday, offering her support to Harris ahead of any other potential candidate. She added, “It’s encouraging to believe that, should President Biden choose to withdraw, we have Vice-President Kamala Harris ready to bring the party together.”
Furthermore, Mark Takano, who retracted his encouragement for Biden in a statement on Saturday, had a more straightforward stance, writing, “It’s time for Kamala to receive the baton.”
This piece was initially published in The New York Times.
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