Some prominent Democratic donors are balking at contributing to Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential bid, suggesting her lefty values doom her potential match-up against Donald Trump.
“You have to be enthusiastic or hoping for a political appointment to be asking friends for money. I am neither. It’s others turn now,” deep-pocketed donor John Morgan wrote on X, hours after President Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 race.
“The donors holding the 90 million can release those funds in the morning. It’s all yours. You can keep my million. And good luck,” added Morgan, a Florida personal-injury lawyer, referring to the group of party contributors who recently refused to allow their donated money to be used to fuel Biden’s widely seen doomed bid.
Morgan previously donated $1 million to the former Biden-Harris campaign.
He said he sees Biden’s endorsement of his controversial second-in-command to replace him at the top of the Dems’ ticket as a “f–k you” to the party for pushing him out.
“Joe Biden’s endorsement of Kamala is his f–k you to all who pushed him out,” Morgan wrote. “Be careful what you wish for.”
Morgan implied he wants another — more centrist — Democrat to take up the mantle.
“Any combination of these people win,” Morgan said, tagging Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV), Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro — adding that former first lady Michelle Obama “wins in a landslide with any of these picks.”
Morgan’s criticism is bad news for Harris’ campaign, which has been furiously reaching out to donors and key allies since Biden dropped out Sunday afternoon.
And other significant Democrat donors also say they would rather have a contested convention to see who could best beat GOP rival Trump — implying Harris may be too weak to be Biden’s shoe-in campaign replacement.
“I want an open process at the convention and not a coronation. The key still is who can best beat [Trump] above all other priorities given how much a danger he is,” Dem donor and tech investor Vinod Khoslawrote on X.
Mega-donor Reed Hastings also expressed doubts about Harris’ voter viability.
“We have hope now,” Hastings told the New York Times after the president dropped out. “Dem delegates need to pick a swing state winner.
“Thank you, Joe Biden,” he added.
Harris does have a large amount of endorsements behind her already from key Democrats, but some top leaders — including former President Barack Obama, ex-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer — have not thrown their weight behind her, at least yet.
Still, she managed to raise $49.6 million in the half-day after Biden endorsed her Sunday afternoon, her campaign announced.
The vice president has three weeks to prove to donors and delegates that she is the best choice to replace Biden on the ticket before the Democratic National Convention votes for its official presidential nominee.
It seems likely that Harris will be the prominent candidate at the convention. Most top potential Democratic candidates who could have challenged Harris have already endorsed her, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Shapiro and Beshear.