Ex-Dem insider says Kamala Harris was positioning to poach Joe Biden’s donors before exit

Lindy Li said Kamala Harris quickly consolidated donor support after Joe Biden exited, but some donors were skeptical of her support for him
Lindy Li alleged Kamala Harris was 'auditioning for Biden's endorsement' while publicly supporting him, as Li worked with both campaigns as a top fundraiser (Screengrab/X/@MichaelARothman, Getty Images)
Lindy Li alleged Kamala Harris was 'auditioning for Biden's endorsement' while publicly supporting him, as Li worked with both campaigns as a top fundraiser (Screengrab/X/@MichaelARothman, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: A former prominent Democratic fundraiser has alleged that Kamala Harris was preparing to take over Joe Biden’s donor base before he exited the 2024 race, even as she publicly pledged her support for him.

Lindy Li, a fundraiser for both Biden and Harris and an influential figure within the Democratic National Committee, made the allegations in an interview with Fox News Digital related to her latest book, ‘Unburdened.'

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris looks on as U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the recently announced cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Cross Hall of the White House on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. The multiphase cease-fire deal, brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, commits Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza after 15 months.  (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Kamala Harris looks on as Joe Biden delivers remarks on the announced cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Cross Hall of the White House on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Lindy Li details Kamala Harris’ donor calls before Biden exit

"It was all charade. She was auditioning for Biden's endorsement, and the way that she did it was by imposing a fake rule on her staff to not talk about her ascending to the nomination," Li said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital.



In the wake of the election, Li has gone public with much of her insider knowledge, raising the alarm over how many figures inside the Democratic Party had seen the writing on the wall but remained silent.

She also detailed how others, including Harris, quickly moved to prepare themselves for what would happen next.

"I was on the call; she would host calls with donors and pretend to support Biden and say there's no daylight between Biden and herself. All the while she was auditioning for those very donors," Li said.

Li recalled how, in one case, Harris addressed donors about Biden’s viability as a candidate two days before Biden bowed out.

"It was either on July 19th or July 20th. Actually, I think it was July 19, 2024; Kamala Harris held a call saying that there was no way that Biden would drop out and that she would stick with him until the end. And these were some of the biggest donors in the party," Li recalled.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 4: President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff view the fireworks over the National Mall from the White House balcony during a 4th of July event on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2024 in Washington, DC. The President is hosting the Independence Day event for members of the military and their families. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Biden; Jill Biden; Kamala Harris; Doug Emhoff
Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Kamala Harris, and Doug Emhoff view the fireworks over the National Mall from the White House balcony during a 4th of July event on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2024 in Washington, DC (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Kamala Harris quickly consolidated donor support after Biden exit

According to Li, Harris moved quickly to consolidate support once Biden's exit became official, even before he had formally endorsed her.

"She was flattering people left and right. The first 24 hours were a very intensive charm offensive on her part. And that's how she was able to consolidate it so quickly. She flattered people up the wazoo."

Li added, "It made it abundantly clear that Biden had endorsed her. And Biden initially, I don't know if people know this, but he didn't want to endorse her right away. It took him a while."

Despite the vice president’s efforts to maintain her support for Biden and back his viability, Li recalled that some of those same donors didn’t buy her story.

WILMINGTON, DE - AUGUST 12: Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Bi
In Lindy Li’s view, Kamala Harris prioritized face time with donors she knew could soon back her own bid (Getty Images)

"A lot of us have group chats. And the immediate reaction is what an effing waste of time. What a charade, how fake."

"Like these are like the wealthiest people in the country saying that. They were very aware they were being lied to, that Biden was clearly not okay and to be told that he was okay when he was clearly incapacitated," Li said. "It was insulting."

Li said many wealthy donors on those calls understood at the time that Biden's condition was being misrepresented to them.

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