Ready for Kamala? First pro-Harris 2024 effort begins recruiting volunteers
The first vestiges of a pro-Harris shadow campaign are taking shape — with or without her blessing — as Democrats debate the future of their presidential ticket.
President Joe Biden insists he’s staying in the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris is standing by his side. But that hasn’t stopped the first hints of a pro-Harris shadow campaign from taking shape — with or without her blessing — as Democrats debate the future of their presidential ticket.
A handful of alumni of Hillary Clinton’s and Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaigns have come together to form United for Harris, so far the first public-facing effort to promote a potential 2024 presidential campaign for Harris, news of which was shared first with NBC News.
Organizers compare the effort to Ready for Hillary, the group that formed months before the former secretary of state officially entered the 2016 contest, which recruited volunteers who pledged their support as they waited for the formal campaign to begin.
“We just want to put it out there that there are folks who are wanting to rally around the vice president, should Joe Biden step aside,” said Matt Ortega, a Democratic digital strategist who served as digital director for communications on Clinton’s campaign. “The idea is to give some people out there who want Harris to be at the top of the ticket a focal point.”
Ortega said the goals of the group are relatively modest: Give Harris supporters “an actionable thing to do” as they wait for the succession crisis to unfold. And to promote Harris’ potential candidacy with what they hope will be a strong show of support for the vice president.
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