Vice President Kamala Harris is holding her first fundraiser since becoming the Democrats’ likely White House nominee, looking to build on a record week of contributions since President Joe Biden ended his campaign for reelection. Harris was traveling to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday in anticipation of raising more than $1.4 million, her campaign announced, from an expected audience of about 800 people. That would be $1 million-plus more than the original goal set for the event before Biden dropped out of the race.
Quick Read
- Harris is holding her first fundraiser as the likely Democratic nominee as donors open their wallets
- Vice President Kamala Harris is hosting her first fundraiser as the likely Democratic presidential nominee in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
- The event aims to raise over $1.4 million from about 800 attendees, significantly surpassing the initial goal set before President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign.
- James Taylor is set to introduce Harris at the fundraiser, which will include prominent Democratic figures such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, former Gov. Deval Patrick, and Rep. Richie Neal.
- Harris’s campaign reported over $100 million in donations within 48 hours of Biden’s announcement, setting a presidential record.
- Harris arrived at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield before heading to the Berkshires for the fundraising event.
The Associated Press has the story:
Harris holds her 1st fundraiser as likely Democratic nominee as donors open their wallets
Newslooks- WESTFIELD, Mass. (AP) —
Vice President Kamala Harris used her first fundraiser since becoming the Democrats’ likely White House nominee to excoriate Republican nominee Donald Trump as determined to roll back American’s freedoms. She told an excited group of supporters that she entered the race as an “underdog,” while expressing confidence that her surging campaign could defeat Trump. “I will fight to move our nation forward,” Harris said. “Donald Trump intends to take our country backwards.” Supporters for the fundraiser at the Colonia Theater included musician James Taylor and many of the state’s Democratic heavyweights, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, former Gov. Deval Patrick and Rep. Richie Neal.
Harris took in more than $100 million in donations in the first 48 hours after Biden quit the race, a presidential record, and aides said she has continued to raise money at a steady clip. “This is a people-powered campaign,” Harris said. “And we have momentum.”
Harris was traveling to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday in anticipation of raising more than $1.4 million, her campaign announced, from an expected audience of about 800 people. That would be $1 million-plus more than the original goal set for the event before Biden dropped out of the race.
Plans called for musician James Taylor to introduce Harris at a fundraiser that was to feature many of the state’s Democratic heavyweights, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, former Gov. Deval Patrick, and Rep. Richie Neal.
Harris greeted supporters when she arrived at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield before her motorcade left for the Berkshires in western Massachusetts.
Harris, a former prosecutor in her home state of California, also derided Trump for his legal troubles. She noted his recent conviction on 34 counts of fraud in New York, a jury finding the former president of being liable for sexual abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, and a $25 million settlement paid to attendees of the now-defunct real estate seminar called Trump University. “I’ve been dealing with people like him my entire career,” Harris said. She added, “So in this campaign, and I say in all seriousness, I will proudly put my record against his any day.”
