Abhay Singh
A series of Zoom calls targeting Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign have raised millions in donations,The first call, involving black women, hit a million-dollar fundraising target in three hours.
The latest call, titled “White Dudes for Harris,” attracted 180,000 people and raised over $3.7m in donations; it featured actors Jeff Bridges, Mark Ruffalo, and Mark Hamill.
The campaign, which is a grassroots effort, has raised $200m and signed up over 170,000 new volunteers in the past week, 100 days from Election Day. Unlike President Joe Biden, who stepped aside and ended his run, hundreds of thousands of ordinary Democrats are now generating “Kamalamentum,” a grassroots energy that was not available for President Joe Biden.
“An informal thing where [Harris
The campaign for Kamala Harris has seen a surge in call attendance, with Zoom meetings reaching 160,000 people. Critics argue that these identity-based virtual gatherings are “racist” and “desperate” pandering to liberal supporters. However, the impact of these events is being taken seriously.
Republican consultant and pollster Whit Ayres believes that the Zoom sessions are an informal way for Harris to present scripted lines and get people fired up, signaling enormous enthusiasm for her candidacy.
He also warns that criticizing these identity-based Zoom sessions would be a mistake, as it backfires when attacking people based on their identity, making everyone else feel like they are being attacked.
Democrats are more energized by Mr Biden’s surprise departure from the race, rather than by Ms Harris herself
Democrats, on the other hand, are reportedly more inspired by Mr. Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the campaign than they are by Ms. Harris, according to her opponent Donald Trump and his party.
A group of black female political organizers held a Zoom call on 21 July, raising $1.6m for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The call attracted 44,000 participants and raised the original goal of $1m in 100 days.
Harris, 59, would become the first black woman and first South Asian woman to secure a major American party’s nomination for president. South Asian women have celebrated her as their “auntie” and Latinas have hailed her as a “hermana.”
The official nomination is expected at the Democratic National Convention in August.
The largest Zoom call in history
On 22 July, over 53,000 black men met on Zoom to raise $1.3m in six hours following Biden’s announcement. The largest Zoom call in history, “White Women: Answer the Call,” saw over 160,000 people join, raising $11m for Harris.
The thousands of “White Dudes for Harris” heard remarks from celebrities and politicians, and supporters were encouraged not to let the Trump campaign speak for “all white men”.
Mr. Ayres warns that if Ms. Harris can maintain her momentum and avoid off-the-cuff gaffes during public events, the Trump campaign should be concerned.
He suggests Zoom sessions could be a useful way for her to reach voters in an informal setting while adhering to her campaign stump points. However, if she learns to be a competent national candidate under pressure, she could give Trump a real run for his money.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings