Provincetown Harris fundraiser raises more than $2 million, organizers say

CNN
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Kamala Harris drew some of the fiercest reactions she’s received in years after defending Joe Biden and slamming Donald Trump at a fundraiser in Provincetown, Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon.

The vice president did not directly address the turmoil facing his running mate, George H. W. Bush, whom he called “our president” and “one of the most important presidents in American history,” but he spoke of the anxiety spreading among the white tents in the shadow of the Pilgrim Monument, repeating, “We are going to win this election,” and urging the crowd to tell their friends.

“It’s not easy, but we’re a group of people who understand that anything worthwhile takes hard work,” Harris said. “It takes grit. It takes believing in something and moving forward.”

The event had been planned weeks ago, but the political context was entirely different. Many in the audience greeted Ms. Harris with excitement as she took the stage. They were clearly convinced that an alternative candidate, and perhaps soon a new presidential candidate, might emerge. The fundraising goal of $1 million had been more than doubled by the afternoon. A large oil painting of Ms. Harris’ face was placed on an easel, eliciting loud cheers and applause as a woman in the back yelled, “Go for it, Kamala!”

Harris stood in front of a giant sign declaring the location “VPTOWN,” a play on the town’s nickname, “Ptown,” but she wasn’t the only one to receive a warm welcome: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is seen by Democratic Party leaders as a possible vice presidential candidate if Harris becomes the nominee, spoke before her.

Buttigieg similarly voiced his support for Biden and praised his work.

“In this extraordinary American project, which will mark its 250th anniversary in 2026 during this president’s next term, we are not just preserving our democracy, we are building it and perfecting it,” Buttigieg said.

Buttigieg echoed the mood of many Democrats, adding, “If we say no to the people who want to ban books and say yes to the people who want to build bridges, we can do that. And that’s why I’m not only fearful of the worst that could happen, but also hopeful about what happens next.”

Organizers say the event raised more than $2 million even as some big donors refrain from writing checks amid growing concerns about Biden’s candidacy, raising serious concerns about how long the campaign can continue at full force if the situation doesn’t change.

Harris, who has been very careful about what she says at this time, did not speak to the reporters accompanying her individually. However, when she boarded Air Force Two, one reporter shouted out, “Did you speak to Biden? How are you?” to which she replied, “Yes.”

Speaking at the event with a largely LGBTQ crowd, Harris spoke about her record on key issues, including being one of the first to officiate a same-sex marriage as San Francisco’s district attorney in 2004, and contrasted that with Trump’s new opponent, J.D. Vance, who opposes marriage equality and gender-affirming health care. Harris charged that, in addition to Trump’s own record of rolling back LGBTQ protections, was reason enough to oppose them.

Harris ended her speech by quoting Harvey Milk, the famous San Francisco gay political pioneer.

“Opponents of progress always try to argue that movements for freedom are destructive and undermine our existence as a nation.

“Harvey Milk used to say, ‘Hope is never silent, and neither are we,'” Harris said.

CNN’s Samantha Woldenberg contributed to this report.