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Kamala Harris Drops Out of 2020 Presidential Race Kamala Harris Drops Out of 2020 Presidential Race
(30 minutes later)
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.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 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. The decision came after weeks of upheaval among Ms. Harris’s staff, including layoffs in New Hampshire and at her headquarters in Baltimore, and disarray among her 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 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. The announcement is perhaps the most surprising development to date in a fluid 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, Oakland, Calif., before an audience of 20,000 people, drawing comparisons to history-making black politicians like Barack Obama and Shirley Chisholm.
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.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.
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.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.
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.” 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. “I just don’t want to bullshit you,” she said.
Over the weekend, after a New York Times story detailed problems within her campaign, 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 do so.
In her announcement Tuesday, Ms. Harris reaffirmed her commitment to her campaign’s unifying ideals.In her announcement Tuesday, Ms. Harris reaffirmed her commitment to her campaign’s unifying ideals.
“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.”“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. 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 staff. Some of her donors, meanwhile, have already begun to field calls from her rivals.
But it is unclear how Ms. Harris’s exit will aid any one candidate in polling, considering how her standing had declined 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. 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.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 had difficulty articulating 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 in the months that followed, beginning when she undercut her star turn when she had difficulty articulating her own position on mandated busing.
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. “She really showed the importance of having different perspectives on the debate stage,” said Amanda Hunter, research and communications director at the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, which supports women in politics and studies double standards. “Her personal story about being bused to school was something that a historically typical older white man would not bring to the conversation.”
But “there is still a very entrenched stereotype of what a presidential candidate looks like in this country,” Ms. Hunter said. “Simply by running, Senator Harris challenged that and broke down stereotypes. But a lot of the questions around electability and the challenges she faced were probably motivated by that entrenched stereotype that so many people held.”
Ms. Harris’s online fund-raising slowed in recent months and large donors increasingly turned toward other candidates. 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.
In the days leading up to her withdrawal from the race, as her campaign grew increasingly desperate, 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.
Even as she struggled, 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. Ms. Harris canceled a scheduled fund-raiser with some of her top bundlers in New York on Tuesday just hours before the event was set to occur. On Wednesday, she had been scheduled to attend an event in Los Angeles at the home of Sean Parker, the billionaire tech entrepreneur.
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. But it was not enough, as her campaign determined that she did not have the financial resources needed to continue to compete. The group quickly began canceling its reservations.
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. In addition to the financial troubles, some of Ms. Harris’s supporters worried that a poor showing once voting began, particularly in the California primary, would leave Ms. Harris vulnerable to a Senate primary challenge in 2022.
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. Presidential candidates have dropped out after running out of money for decades, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and former Representative Beto O’Rourke 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.
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 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.
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.
Ms. Harris’s former rivals for the Democratic nomination quickly expressed their admiration for her on Tuesday.Ms. Harris’s former rivals for the Democratic nomination quickly expressed their admiration for her on Tuesday.
“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,” Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey 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.” The former housing secretary Julián Castro called her “a lifelong fighter for opportunity and justice for all Americans.”
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.
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.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.