Dems face backlash after Biden's endorsement of Kamala Harris raises $50M in donations within 24 hours
WASHINGTON, DC: In a stunning turn of events, President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday afternoon, July 21. Citing the best interest of the Democratic Party and the nation, Biden’s decision has sparked a significant response from donors and party members alike.
Immediately following Biden’s announcement, grassroots donations surged. Within the first hour, Democrats raised over $5 million through ActBlue, a key online fundraising platform. This wave of contributions continued throughout the afternoon, reaching nearly $16 million within three hours, as per Daily Mail.
Democrats witness major surge in donations following Joe Biden's withdrawal from 2024 race
The momentum didn't stop there; another $1 million was added in just 20 minutes later that evening. By the end of the day, the total donations had skyrocketed to nearly $50 million.
The exact allocation of these funds remains unclear, as ActBlue’s tracker aggregates donations for the national party, Biden’s campaign, and other Democratic candidates. However, Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor is likely directing significant support towards her campaign.
Following Biden’s exit, he publicly backed Harris for the 2024 presidential nomination.
"Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this," Biden posted, including a link for donations to Harris’ campaign.
Major Democratic donors have echoed this support. Speaking to Daily Mail, one donor described the response as a "MASSIVE" influx of donations and interest, labeling it "wild" and unprecedented.
Another prominent donor acknowledged the bittersweet nature of Biden’s departure, recognizing his achievements while expressing confidence in Harris.
"She is brilliant, seasoned by decades of leadership experience in some of the most demanding roles in politics, and I know she will operate with the utmost integrity and compassion to help all Americans," the donor stated.
Despite this strong backing, Harris faces an uncertain path to securing the nomination.
Although no other Democrats have entered the race yet, the potential for a contested primary remains, with the Democratic National Convention delegates set to vote on the nominee next month.
Democrats face backlash online in wake of massive fundraising surge
The internet was quick to react to the surge in donations following Joe Biden's withdrawal, with many users critical of Democrats.
One user said, "When Harris ran for president herself, she didn't stand a chance and was eliminated early, and someone like that is now presumably going to take over as president? That's even more ridiculous than if Joe had done his job from his sickbed."
While another remarked, "There are laws in many states that make it impossible to take Biden off their ballots once he’s won their primaries. This is going to get messy."
One person wrote, "Thirty ppl are going to disenfranchise 15 million Democrat primary voters and pick the nominee and Kamala isn't that person. Can't believe Dems are rolling over and allowing this to happen." Another posted, "Money won't keep the Titanic from sinking."
One individual commented, "All that money won’t matter if she is the nominee." Another mentioned, "Democratic voters have been gaslighted, lied to, and played the fool by their OWN party."
One person stated, "Harris has got to be the most unqualified presidential candidate in history that is being considered by any party this late in the race."
Another added, "Money wasted on an all you can eat Word Salad buffet."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
