U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris departs from Air Force Two as she arrives at Pope Army Airfield to campaign on July 18, 2024 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Kevin Mohat | Reuters
The person and two other sources said several donors joined to get an inside look at President Joe Biden’s poor debate performance and how to move forward after a growing number of Democrats called for him to drop out of the race. Instead, they said, donors left the call disappointed and didn’t gain new insights or useful information.
“It’s a complete failure,” said a source on the call who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide an honest assessment. “It took a toll. Poor planning.”
The call was arranged by Biden’s campaign chairman, Jen O’Malley Dillon, not the campaign’s finance team, according to a source familiar with the planning. One of the sources on the call said the donors in attendance represented a range of viewpoints — some ardent Biden fans, some skeptical of his path forward and many others.
U.S. President Joe Biden rubs his nose as he greets shoppers at Mario’s Westside Market grocery store in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., on July 16, 2024.
Tom Brenner | Reuters
At the end of the call, hundreds of participants were not muted, and one declared that the call was “ridiculous,” according to two sources.
A source insisted they took the comment as a call that went poorly and not as criticism of Harris.
During the call, Harris, who was asked to join the call by Biden’s senior advisers, praised Biden, campaign officials said.
“We know which candidate puts the American people first in this election: our President Joe Biden,” he said, according to campaign officials. “Every decision he makes in the Oval Office, he thinks about how it will affect working Americans. I witness that every day.”
Harris also spoke positively about the Democrats’ chances of defeating former President Donald Trump. “I believe in my heart,” Harris said, according to campaign officials. “I feel strongly that you all need to hear this and take it with you when you leave. And tell your friends. We’re going to win this election. We’re going to win.”
NBC News has reached out to the Biden campaign for comment.
The drop in calls comes as questions swirl about Biden’s future on the ticket as donations to the Biden-Harris campaign and Democratic groups have fallen, with Harris repeatedly dispatched to speak to donors.
The call with donors began with presentations by field organizers who expressed anger at the ongoing debate within the Democratic Party over whether to back President Biden, given what they saw and heard from voters on the ground, according to a source with direct knowledge of the discussion. .
Before Harris joined, a source said, there was an effort to stop what they said was routine for events with high-ranking officials. But what angered many donors was that during the wait — which was about 20 minutes — donors were “instructed.” Participants of the call were told to “lock up and back off” on Biden and not continue efforts to oust the president.
“Help us publicly reject the tone of this conversation,” Melissa Morales, founder and president of Somos Votendes, said in the call, according to a transcript obtained by NBC News. “It’s time to stop the leaks and widespread rumours. Your message has been heard and received. But every day we continue to publicly confuse the conversation, we move closer to losing whoever we are.”
Some on the call didn’t like that.
“These are donors who are not used to being instructed and told what to do,” the source said.
Another source who was on the call and supports Harris as the Democratic candidate pushed the donor’s feelings of frustration.
When many donors thought they were getting intelligence and confidential information, they immediately went to the media to prove why they shouldn’t, the person said.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Harris spoke at a campaign fundraiser in Provincetown, Mass., and hailed Biden as the most consequential president in history.
Harris received applause for various parts of his speech, including his and Biden’s record of advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ community.
But Harris’ criticism of Trump drew loud applause from the crowd as one of the 1,000-strong crowd shouted, “Go kill him, Kamala.”
The applause lasted for several seconds as Harris smiled and cheered for about a thousand people.
After Harris left the stage, Lenny Aligman, 63, said he wanted to see Biden step aside.
“She’s on a tightrope. She has to be very careful not to alienate Biden,” Alickman said when asked about Harris praising Biden throughout the speech. “I really want to see Kamala at the top of the ticket. She can implement and continue the policies of the Biden administration. I love Biden, but I’m not sure he’s up to the job. And, I’m worried. He’s going to lose against Trump.
John Newton, 75, who attended the fundraiser, also said he wanted Biden out of the race and wanted to see Harris become the party’s nominee.
“I love Joe,” Newton said. “In a business environment, it’s like your 81-year-old salesperson being stupid at a conference and not mentioning his numbers. And you have to go in and tell him, ‘Judy’s replacing you.’ It’s not fun, but it has to happen.
Harris ended his speech at the event, which reportedly raised $2 million, by talking about his campaign manager when he ran for district attorney in San Francisco.
He told himself, “You must recognize what you are up against—and know that those who oppose progress will try to suggest that the movement for freedom is somehow subversive and that it undermines a nation or our heritage. .
