PROVINCETOWN, Mass. — A call involving Vice President Kamala Harris and about 300 major Democratic donors frustrated many who dialed in Friday, with one donor declaring it “ridiculous” just before it ended, according to two sources familiar with the call.
One person on the call described it as “mismanaged” and “rushed.” Expectations were not well managed and some participants felt instructed.
The person and two other sources said several donors joined to get an inside look at President Joe Biden’s poor debate performance and how to move forward after a growing number of Democrats called for him to drop out of the race. Instead, they said, donors left the call disappointed and didn’t gain new insights or useful information.
“It’s a complete failure,” said a source on the call who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide an honest assessment. “It caused damage. It was poor planning.”
The call was arranged by Biden’s campaign chairman, Jen O’Malley Dillon, not the campaign’s finance team, according to a source familiar with the planning. One of the sources on the call said the donors in attendance represented a range of viewpoints — some ardent Biden fans, some skeptical of his path forward and many others.
At the end of the call, hundreds of participants were not muted, and one declared that the call was “ridiculous,” according to two sources.
A source insisted they took the comment that the call went poorly and was not a criticism of Harris.
During the call, Harris, who was asked to join the call by Biden’s senior advisers, praised Biden, campaign officials said.
“We know which candidate puts the American people first in this election: our President Joe Biden,” he said, according to campaign officials. “Every decision he makes in the Oval Office, he thinks about how it will affect working Americans. I witness that every day.
Harris also spoke positively about the Democrats’ chances of defeating former President Donald Trump. “I believe in my heart,” Harris said, according to campaign officials. “I feel strongly that you should all listen and take it with you when you leave. And tell your friends. We’re going to win this election. We’re going to win,” he said.
NBC News has reached out to the Biden campaign for comment.
The drop in calls comes as questions swirl about Biden’s future on the ticket, as donations to the Biden-Harris campaign and Democratic groups have fallen, and Harris has been repeatedly dispatched to speak to donors.
The call with donors began with presentations by field organizers who expressed anger at the ongoing debate within the Democratic Party over whether to back President Biden, given what they saw and heard from voters on the ground, according to a source with direct knowledge of the discussion. .
Before Harris joined, a source said, there was an effort to stop what they said was routine for events with high-ranking officials. But what angered many donors was that during the wait – about 20 minutes – donors were “instructed”. Participants in the call were told to “lock up and back off” on Biden and not continue efforts to oust the president.
“Help us publicly reject the tone of this conversation,” Melissa Morales, founder and president of Somos Votantes, said in the call, according to a transcript obtained by NBC News. “It’s time to stop the leaks and rampant rumours. Your message has been heard and received. But every day we continue to have this publicly confusing conversation, we’re getting closer to losing — whoever the nominee is.”
Some on the call didn’t like that.
“These are donors who are not used to being instructed and told what to do,” the source said.
Another source who was on the call and supports Harris as the Democratic nominee pushed the donor’s feelings of frustration.
When many donors thought they were going to get intelligence and confidential information, they immediately went to the media to prove why they shouldn’t, the person said.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Harris spoke at a campaign fundraiser in Provincetown, Mass., and hailed Biden as the most consequential president in history.
Harris received applause during various parts of his speech, including his and Biden’s record of advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ community.
But Harris’ criticism of Trump drew loud applause from the crowd when one of the 1,000-strong crowd shouted “Go him Kamala”.
The applause lasted for several seconds as Harris smiled and cheered for about a thousand people.
After Harris left the stage, Lenny Aligman, 63, said he wanted to see Biden step aside.
“She is on a tight rope. She has to be very careful not to alienate Biden,” Alickman said when asked about Harris praising Biden throughout the speech. “I really want to see Kamala at the top of the ticket. He can implement and continue the policies of the Biden administration. I love Biden, but I don’t know if he’s up to the job. Also, I worry that he will lose against Trump.
John Newton, 75, who attended the fundraiser, also said he wanted Biden out of the race and wanted to see Harris become the party’s nominee.
“I love Joe,” Newton said. “In a business environment, it’s like your 81-year-old salesperson who’s being silly at conferences and not making his numbers. And you have to go in and tell him, ‘Judy’s replacing you.’ It’s not fun. But unfortunately it has to happen.”
Harris ended his speech at the event, which reportedly raised $2 million, by talking about his campaign manager when he ran for district attorney in San Francisco.
He told himself, “You have to recognize what you’re up against—and know that those who oppose progress will always try to suggest that the freedom movement is somehow subversive and that it undermines a nation or our heritage. . . . But what we do know is that when we fight to expand rights, we as a nation It strengthens who.
