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Kamala Harris Drops Out of 2020 Presidential Race Kamala Harris Drops Out of 2020 Presidential Race
(32 minutes later)
Senator Kamala Harris of California dropped out of the Democratic presidential race on Tuesday after months of low poll numbers, a deflating comedown for a barrier-breaking candidate who was seeking to become the first black woman to win the presidency. Senator Kamala Harris of California dropped out of the Democratic presidential race on Tuesday after months of low poll numbers and a series of missteps that crippled her campaign, a deflating comedown for a barrier-breaking candidate who was seeking to become the first black woman to win the presidency.
The decision came after upheaval among staff and disarray among Ms. Harris’s own allies. She told supporters in an email on Tuesday that she lacked the money needed to fully finance a competitive campaign. The decision came after weeks of upheaval among staff, including layoffs in New Hampshire and at her headquarters in Baltimore, and disarray among Ms. Harris’s own allies. She told supporters in an email on Tuesday that she lacked the money needed to fully finance a competitive campaign.
“My campaign for president simply doesn’t have the financial resources we need to continue,” Ms. Harris wrote.“My campaign for president simply doesn’t have the financial resources we need to continue,” Ms. Harris wrote.
The announcement is perhaps the most surprising development to date in a Democratic presidential campaign where Ms. Harris began in the top tier. Her departure removes a prominent black candidate from a field that began as the most diverse ever in a Democratic primary, and raises the prospect that this month’s debate in Los Angeles will feature no people of color. The announcement is perhaps the most surprising development to date in a Democratic presidential campaign where Ms. Harris began in the top tier. Her departure removes a prominent woman of color from a field that began as the most diverse ever in a Democratic primary, and raises the prospect that this month’s debate in Los Angeles will feature no candidates who aren’t white.
Ms. Harris opened her campaign on Martin Luther King’s Birthday with a rousing speech in her hometown of Oakland, Calif, before an audience of 20,000 people, drawing comparisons to historic black politicians like Barack Obama and Shirley Chisholm.Ms. Harris opened her campaign on Martin Luther King’s Birthday with a rousing speech in her hometown of Oakland, Calif, before an audience of 20,000 people, drawing comparisons to historic black politicians like Barack Obama and Shirley Chisholm.
But almost immediately after her campaign began, she faced questions about where she fit on the party’s ideological spectrum. She reversed her position on single-payer health care, removing herself from the Medicare for All bill sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. She struggled with how to frame her record as a prosecutor, oscillating between defending it against progressive criticism and embracing it in a play for more moderate votes. The speech was a signal of the careful balance her campaign tried to strike throughout the year: leaning on her personal story as a daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants while positioning her policy preferences outside the party’s moderate and progressive ideological wings. Ms. Harris sought to focus on incremental and deliverable change rather than the type of systemic upheaval popularized by rivals like Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Over the weekend, after a New York Times story detailed her campaign’s unraveling, Ms. Harris did a financial audit of her operation, according to a senior aide. She also held conversations with her advisers, before deciding to drop out late Monday night, according to campaign officials. But almost immediately after her campaign began, she faced questions about her policy core that resulted in damaging news cycles. She reversed her position on single-payer health care, removing herself from the Medicare for All bill sponsored by Mr. Sanders. She struggled with how to frame her record as a prosecutor, oscillating between defending it against progressive criticism and embracing it in a play for more moderate votes.
One of Ms. Harris’s aides, who spoke with her about her decision, said her instinct was to keep fighting but that she was told she’d have to go into debt to sustain her campaign. On a conference call with donors, Ms. Harris said she had conferred with her family over the Thanksgiving holiday and stayed up meeting with advisers until 2 a.m. Tuesday, before concluding she had “no path” forward in the race, a person on the call said. Ms. Harris said she would have needed to raise $5 million in two weeks, a goal she described as impossible. Invoking an early campaign catch phrase, Ms. Harris said she wanted to be direct with her financial backers, because their relationship was built on “speaking truth.”
Because Ms. Harris’s standing in the polls had declined dramatically in recent months, her withdrawal from the race is unlikely to aid any one candidate. But she and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachussetts were competing for many of the same voters earlier in the year. In her announcement Tuesday, Ms. Harris reaffirmed her commitment to her campaign’s unifying ideals.
Indeed, Ms. Harris’s unrealized promise was on display Monday afternoon at a town hall for Ms. Warren in Iowa City. Asked who else in the field they considered, many supporters of Ms. Warren in attendance named Ms. Harris before stating that she hadn’t lived up to their expectations. “Although I’m no longer running for president,” she said, “I will do everything in my power to defeat Donald Trump and fight for the future of our country and the best of who we are.”
Over the weekend, after a New York Times story detailed her campaign’s unraveling, Ms. Harris did a financial audit of her operation, according to a senior aide. One of Ms. Harris’s aides, who spoke with her about her decision to drop out, said her instinct was to keep fighting but that she was told she’d have to go into debt to sustain her campaign.
Ms. Harris’s withdrawal will set off an arms race between the presidential campaigns still in the race, as they try to lap up her top-tier roster of endorsements and political campaign staff. But it is unclear how Ms. Harris’s exit will aid any one candidate in polling, considering her standing had declined dramatically in recent months. She and Ms. Warren were competing for many of the same voters earlier in the year, but ideological moderates like former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind. may seek a boost from her supporters in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Throughout her candidacy, Ms. Harris faced concerns about her political strategy and her campaign’s organizational structure. She relied on a stable of California political strategists, led by the longtime political operative Averell Smith, who did not heed warnings from grass-roots organizers to invest more heavily in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire. Instead, the campaign focused on later primaries in states with more nonwhite voters, including South Carolina and California.Throughout her candidacy, Ms. Harris faced concerns about her political strategy and her campaign’s organizational structure. She relied on a stable of California political strategists, led by the longtime political operative Averell Smith, who did not heed warnings from grass-roots organizers to invest more heavily in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire. Instead, the campaign focused on later primaries in states with more nonwhite voters, including South Carolina and California.
They miscalculated. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. remained popular with black voters, preventing the campaign from making significant headway in South Carolina. In California, Ms. Harris was increasingly boxed out, as progressives like Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren excited the state’s liberal wing and Mr. Biden persisted among moderates. They miscalculated. Mr. Biden remained popular with black voters, preventing the campaign from making significant headway in South Carolina. In California, Ms. Harris was increasingly boxed out, as progressives like Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren excited the state’s liberal wing and Mr. Biden persisted among moderates.
Still, Ms. Harris had already qualified for the next presidential debate, scheduled for Dec. 19, the only non-white candidate to do so thus far. Without her, Democrats may have an all-white debate stage after beginning the primaries with the most racially diverse field in history, though candidates like Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and businessman Andrew Yang may still qualify in the coming days.Still, Ms. Harris had already qualified for the next presidential debate, scheduled for Dec. 19, the only non-white candidate to do so thus far. Without her, Democrats may have an all-white debate stage after beginning the primaries with the most racially diverse field in history, though candidates like Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and businessman Andrew Yang may still qualify in the coming days.
“No matter your candidate, you have to recognize that going from the most diverse field ever in January to a potentially all-white debate stage in December is catastrophic,” wrote Leah Greenberg, a co-executive director of Indivisible, a national progressive group, on Twitter.“No matter your candidate, you have to recognize that going from the most diverse field ever in January to a potentially all-white debate stage in December is catastrophic,” wrote Leah Greenberg, a co-executive director of Indivisible, a national progressive group, on Twitter.
It was on an earlier debate stage when Ms. Harris generated one of the most electric moments of the race so far, when she challenged Mr. Biden over his record on race and busing in June. “I do not believe you are a racist,” she began. Mr. Biden was so taken aback he cut off his own answer short. “Anyway, my time is up. I’m sorry,” he said.It was on an earlier debate stage when Ms. Harris generated one of the most electric moments of the race so far, when she challenged Mr. Biden over his record on race and busing in June. “I do not believe you are a racist,” she began. Mr. Biden was so taken aback he cut off his own answer short. “Anyway, my time is up. I’m sorry,” he said.
Money poured into her campaign and she spiked in the polls, rocketing to second place in several and generally peaking at 20 percent support. But her poll numbers declined steadily since then, beginning when she undercut her star turn when she struggled to articulate her own position on mandated busing. Money poured into her campaign and she spiked in the polls, rocketing to second place in several and generally peaking at 20 percent support. But her poll numbers declined steadily since then, beginning when she undercut her star turn when had difficulty articulating her own position on mandated busing.
In recent months, Ms. Harris had struggled financially as her online fund-raising slowed and her large donors increasingly turned away from her campaign. Ms. Harris’s online fund-raising slowed in recent months and large donors increasingly turned away from her campaign. In the days leading up to her withdrawal from the race, she grew increasingly desperate in her search for campaign funds. She surprised one donor who had hosted an event for her but is not a major Democratic bundler by telephoning him to see if he could reach out to his associates who had yet to give, in hopes of finding her additional checks. Another donor recommended to her that she leave the race.
And in the days leading up to her withdrawal from the race, Ms. Harris grew increasingly desperate in her search for campaign funds. She surprised one donor who had hosted an event for her but is not a major Democratic bundler by telephoning him to see if he could reach out to his associates who had yet to give, in hopes of finding her additional checks. Another donor had recommended to her that she leave the race.
A pair of California-based Democratic strategists, Dan Newman and Brian Brokaw, had just secured the money and the implicit sign off from Ms. Harris’s campaign to begin a super PAC in support of her candidacy. The group, named People Standing Strong, was to begin a million-dollar ad buy in Iowa on Wednesday in hopes of boosting her chances. Her campaign itself had been unable to afford ads in the state since September.A pair of California-based Democratic strategists, Dan Newman and Brian Brokaw, had just secured the money and the implicit sign off from Ms. Harris’s campaign to begin a super PAC in support of her candidacy. The group, named People Standing Strong, was to begin a million-dollar ad buy in Iowa on Wednesday in hopes of boosting her chances. Her campaign itself had been unable to afford ads in the state since September.
Even as she struggled in recent months, Ms. Harris had assembled a coveted list of more than 130 bundlers who had raised at least $25,000 for her campaign, more than half of whom were from her home state of California, one of the deepest wells of Democratic cash.Even as she struggled in recent months, Ms. Harris had assembled a coveted list of more than 130 bundlers who had raised at least $25,000 for her campaign, more than half of whom were from her home state of California, one of the deepest wells of Democratic cash.
Among those seen as likeliest to benefit financially from her withdrawal are Mr. Buttigieg and Mr. Biden, who have both extensively courted the donor class. Some of her donors had already begun to field calls from her rivals as the depth of Ms. Harris’s troubles became plain.Among those seen as likeliest to benefit financially from her withdrawal are Mr. Buttigieg and Mr. Biden, who have both extensively courted the donor class. Some of her donors had already begun to field calls from her rivals as the depth of Ms. Harris’s troubles became plain.
On Tuesday, she had a fund-raiser scheduled with some of her top bundlers in New York City that was canceled only hours before the event was set to occur. And on Wednesday, she had been scheduled to attend an event on the other side of the country, in Los Angeles, where Sean Parker, the billionaire tech entrepreneur, was set to host her at his home.On Tuesday, she had a fund-raiser scheduled with some of her top bundlers in New York City that was canceled only hours before the event was set to occur. And on Wednesday, she had been scheduled to attend an event on the other side of the country, in Los Angeles, where Sean Parker, the billionaire tech entrepreneur, was set to host her at his home.
In the third quarter of the year, she spent more than $1.41 for every dollar she raised, burning through millions of her treasury. She stopped buying ads, both online and on television, implemented layoffs, slashed staff in New Hampshire and retrenched to Iowa, where she spent the Thanksgiving holiday with her family. In the third quarter of the year, she spent more than $1.41 for every dollar she raised, burning through millions of her treasury. She stopped buying ads, both online and on television, slashed staff in New Hampshire and retrenched to Iowa, where she spent the Thanksgiving holiday with her family.
But it was not enough, as her campaign determined that she did not have the financial resources needed to compete, even as a new allied super PAC began reserving ads on Tuesday. The group quickly began canceling its reservations. But it was not enough, as her campaign determined that she did not have the financial resources needed to compete, even as the new allied super PAC began reserving ads on Tuesday. The group quickly began canceling its reservations.
Supporters also worried that a poor showing, particularly in the California primary, would leave Ms. Harris vulnerable to a Senate primary challenge in 2022.Supporters also worried that a poor showing, particularly in the California primary, would leave Ms. Harris vulnerable to a Senate primary challenge in 2022.
“As the campaign has gone on, it’s become harder and harder to raise the money we need to compete,” Ms. Harris wrote to supporters. Running out of money has ended presidential campaigns for decades, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s and former Representative Beto O’Rourke’s earlier this year. In 2015, Scott Walker, then the governor of Wisconsin, famously flamed out of the Republican contest months before balloting began because he was short on cash; two decades earlier, in 1995, Pete Wilson, then the governor of California, quit that race after falling into debt.
Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota quickly expressed admiration for Ms. Harris, as did Mr. Castro, who called her “a lifelong fighter for opportunity and justice for all Americans.” Ms. Harris’s former rivals for the Democratic nomination quickly expressed their admiration for her on Tuesday.
“Sometimes campaigns can tear friendships apart but we have grown closer,” Ms. Klobuchar tweeted. “Her good work will continue.” “Her campaign broke barriers and did it with joy,” Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey tweeted. “Love you, sister.”
“Her campaign broke barriers and did it with joy,” Mr. Booker tweeted. “Love you, sister.” Mr. Sanders thanked Ms. Harris “for running a spirited and issue-oriented campaign,” and Ms. Warren praised her “commitment to fighting for the people, for justice, and to holding Donald Trump accountable.” The former housing secretary Julián Castro called her “a lifelong fighter for opportunity and justice for all Americans.”
Mr. Sanders thanked Ms. Harris “for running a spirited and issue-oriented campaign,” and Ms. Warren praised her “commitment to fighting for the people, for justice, and to holding Donald Trump accountable.”
Mr. Biden, campaigning in Iowa, called Ms. Harris “a first-rate intellect, first-rate candidate, real competitor.” He walked away when a reporter asked whether he would consider Ms. Harris as a running mate.Mr. Biden, campaigning in Iowa, called Ms. Harris “a first-rate intellect, first-rate candidate, real competitor.” He walked away when a reporter asked whether he would consider Ms. Harris as a running mate.
Jonathan Martin reported from Mason City, Iowa. Maggie Astor contributed reporting from New York. Astead W. Herndon and Shane Goldmacher reported from New York, and Jonathan Martin from Mason City, Iowa. Maggie Astor and Alexander Burns contributed reporting from New York.