Inside Kamala Harris’ frantic hours after Biden dropped out
Vice President Kamala Harris made history Sunday as the first VP to be called upon in the 11th hour to step and try to campaign and win the election with just 106 days before Election Day.
She’s is in a race against time to win the hearts of 4,700 Democratic convention delegates – the elected officials, former presidents and Democratic superdelegates that Biden won in the primary.
While his vice president was not in his tight circle, Biden called her to inform her of his decision on Sunday.
Harris moved immediately to start working the phones to get party luminaries on board, especially Democrats rumored to launch their own campaigns.
According to reports, Harris spent more than 10 hours on the phone after Biden’s announcement dressed casually in a hooded Howard University sweatshirt and workout sweats, according to CNN.
Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) talks on the phone as she rides on her campaign bus
She wore sneakers and snacked on pizza with anchovies for dinner as she frantically worked the phone.
With Biden’s endorsement, Harris moved quickly to solidify support and the results were significant.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shaprio, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper all announced their support for Harris before the day was over.
Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton also signaled their support on social media.
Kamala Harris attends a music festival in California
Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff arrive in the East Room of the White House,
Most notably, Harris ascension to the top of the ticket raised $49.6 million in just one afternoon as skeptical Democratic donors finally opened up their wallets after Biden’s decision to step down.
The pro-abortion political action committee EMILY’s List announced plans to spend at least $20 million to support Harris.
But Harris has yet to obtain an endorsement from former President Barack Obama, a surprise, since he has generously helped her throughout her political career and even advised her as she struggled in her first three years as Vice President. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi has also failed to endorse Harris, despite serving with her as a California Democrat.
Kamala’s Presidential Reboot: Prosecute Trump
As advisors scramble to reassert Harris on the global stage, the Vice President plans to return to an old campaign theme she first debuted during her failed 2020 presidential campaign: The prosecutor.
As a former prosector, Harris frequently speaks about her abilities to ‘prosecute the case’ against Trump. After Trump was convicted in a Manhattan court of multiple felonies, Harris was further motivated the Harris team to drive home the comparison. That language was echoed in statements of support from fellow Democrats.
‘With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump’s dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President,’ Newsom wrote on social media.
Harris supporters shared with reporters an old campaign ad from her failed 2019 primary featuring Harris a no-nonsense prosecutor taking on Trump to demonstrate her strengths in the ongoing process.
But that ad was the product of Harris’ advisory team in November 2019 when her campaign was only running on fumes.
Still, Harris supporters view her image as a prosecutor as a benefit, even though her law enforcement record and image as the ‘top cop’ of California hurt her in the 2019 primaries.
Democrats frustrated with Biden’s failures to confront Trump during the debate are now eager to see her tackle Trump.
Kamala Harris and Joe Biden at the White House
Vice President Kamala Harris talks with first lady Jill Biden in Washington, DC
A key figure in the ‘cover-up’
Republicans began questioning Harris about how involved she was in covering up the issue of Biden’s frailty and mental decline.
Throughout the reelection campaign, Harris defended Biden as one of the ‘boldest and strongest’ presidents ever and ‘tireless in terms of working.’ She said that Biden was ‘gonna be fine,’ and said he was ‘in good shape, in good health.’
Kamala Harris is at the beating heart of this conspiracy,’ former Trump aide Steven Miller said on Fox News after Biden’s disastrous debate in June.
‘She needs to be hauled in front of Congress immediately to answer questions: What did Kamala know? When did she know it? And why did she lie to us all?’
Harris has to explain to voters why she helped cover up details about Biden’s condition or was not trusted enough to remain in his inner circle to know the truth.
Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she heads to her car after arriving in Savannah, Ga.
US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the press
The failed border czar
Trump campaign chief Chris LaCivita spoke to reporters during the Republican National Convention, hinting that the campaign was already preparing to run against Harris.
When asked about her greatest political weaknesses, LaCivita replied shortly ‘border czar.’
Republicans successfully branded Harris as Biden’s chosen figure to handle the border crisis, even as she and her staff worked mightily to side-step the responsibility, insisting she was only in charge of ‘root causes’ of migration in countries like El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.
Republicans believe they can remind voters of how flippant she was on the issue of border security and how she failed so badly on the issue that Biden had to reassume the administration’s messaging on the issue.
NewsNation correspondent Ali Bradley reported that Harris had not spoken with Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens or former Chief Raul Ortiz since she was asked to lead the administration’s response on the border.
