Democrat Attitudes Shift to Elation Over Harris: ‘It’s all changed’
"This is an excitement level that has very rarely been seen in American politics," Sen. Ed Markey remarked at a Saturday fundraiser supporting Kamala Harris' campaign.
TroibNews 
PITTSFIELD, Massachusetts — Just a week ago, Kamala Harris stood beneath a towering monument on the tip of Cape Cod, reassuring donors of Joe Biden's strength as the Democrat best positioned to defeat Donald Trump.
On Saturday, the vice president returned to this deep-blue state in a different capacity: pitching donors on herself.
“Now,” she declared, “the baton is in our hands.”
Harris visited the Berkshires to raise more than $1.4 million for her political campaign. The event surpassed organizers’ $400,000 goal, featuring performances by James Taylor, Yo-Yo Ma, and Emanuel Ax, and hosted by former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
Her speech mirrored recent campaign addresses since she became the Democratic front-runner following Biden's withdrawal. Harris presented her upcoming contest with Trump as a battle between a prosecutor and a felon, a forward-looking message versus one focused on the past, and a vision to expand rights rather than restrict them — referencing her commitment to codify national abortion access.
She voiced plans to strengthen gun regulations and grow the middle class. When discussing the hope that Trump might "reconsider" debating her, after his campaign said plans weren’t finalized, a man in the crowd shouted, “So do we!”
Harris acknowledged the daunting challenge of launching a major-party presidential campaign just 100 days before Election Day against a well-prepared opponent whose allies have already begun deploying sexist and racist attacks against her.
“We have a fight ahead of us. And we are the underdogs in this race, OK? Level set,” Harris said. “But this is a people-powered campaign. And we have momentum.”
Returning to Massachusetts under very different circumstances than her Provincetown visit seven days ago, she rallied donors for a Biden-led ticket, now hauling in $2 million for what was then his joint fundraising committee.
Now almost guaranteed the Democratic nomination, Harris's team is vetting potential running mates. She has substantial support from major Massachusetts Democrats, including Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, who welcomed her on the tarmac. She also secured verbal commitments from delegates to the Democratic National Convention nationwide.
“This is an excitement level that has very rarely been seen in American politics,” Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) remarked, recalling her Provincetown event as electrifying.
In Pittsfield on Saturday, Harris's supporters filled the streets near the Colonial Theatre with homemade signs, packing the venue to hear from Harris, Patrick, Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Markey, Rep. Richard Neal, and historian Heather Cox Richardson.
Sherwood Guernsey, an event host and former state representative, said it was “easily” the biggest political fundraiser in the Berkshires since Michelle Obama's 2012 concert with Taylor.
The fundraiser had long been planned, but it sold out after Harris launched her campaign.
Guernsey noted the shift from despondency to excitement among Democrats and independents as hope returned.
Outside, Harris faced mixed reactions. Supporters with “Madame President” signs stood alongside Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supporters. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian protesters voiced their opposition with signs condemning Harris and Biden’s stance on Gaza.
Inside the theater, away from protesters, donors applauded Harris but acknowledged the looming challenges. They advised her to stay positive in the face of attacks from Trump and his allies — pointing out Trump’s “wild lies” and some of his and running mate Sen. JD Vance's (R-Ohio) statements as “just plain weird.”
Susan May, a Democratic-leaning independent voter, warned that the initial excitement might fade as campaign pressures mount, but Saturday was still a day of relief and new energy for Democrats.
“The level of excitement and enthusiasm for the vice president has just exploded,” said Patrick, highlighting the shift from internal debates to uniting the party’s vision for the nation.
Harris's momentum also extends to New Hampshire, where recent polls show her leading Trump by 6 percentage points. Activist enthusiasm was strongly felt during Harris campaign events, headlined by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a co-chair of Harris’s bid and potential running mate.
Bill Shaheen, introducing Whitmer at a Durham house party, reflected the change in mood among Democrats. Recalling sleepless nights of worry, he now saw Democrats as “euphoric,” confident in Harris as “the right candidate.”
Kelly Garrity contributed to this report.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Saturday, the vice president returned to this deep-blue state in a different capacity: pitching donors on herself.
“Now,” she declared, “the baton is in our hands.”
Harris visited the Berkshires to raise more than $1.4 million for her political campaign. The event surpassed organizers’ $400,000 goal, featuring performances by James Taylor, Yo-Yo Ma, and Emanuel Ax, and hosted by former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
Her speech mirrored recent campaign addresses since she became the Democratic front-runner following Biden's withdrawal. Harris presented her upcoming contest with Trump as a battle between a prosecutor and a felon, a forward-looking message versus one focused on the past, and a vision to expand rights rather than restrict them — referencing her commitment to codify national abortion access.
She voiced plans to strengthen gun regulations and grow the middle class. When discussing the hope that Trump might "reconsider" debating her, after his campaign said plans weren’t finalized, a man in the crowd shouted, “So do we!”
Harris acknowledged the daunting challenge of launching a major-party presidential campaign just 100 days before Election Day against a well-prepared opponent whose allies have already begun deploying sexist and racist attacks against her.
“We have a fight ahead of us. And we are the underdogs in this race, OK? Level set,” Harris said. “But this is a people-powered campaign. And we have momentum.”
Returning to Massachusetts under very different circumstances than her Provincetown visit seven days ago, she rallied donors for a Biden-led ticket, now hauling in $2 million for what was then his joint fundraising committee.
Now almost guaranteed the Democratic nomination, Harris's team is vetting potential running mates. She has substantial support from major Massachusetts Democrats, including Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, who welcomed her on the tarmac. She also secured verbal commitments from delegates to the Democratic National Convention nationwide.
“This is an excitement level that has very rarely been seen in American politics,” Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) remarked, recalling her Provincetown event as electrifying.
In Pittsfield on Saturday, Harris's supporters filled the streets near the Colonial Theatre with homemade signs, packing the venue to hear from Harris, Patrick, Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Markey, Rep. Richard Neal, and historian Heather Cox Richardson.
Sherwood Guernsey, an event host and former state representative, said it was “easily” the biggest political fundraiser in the Berkshires since Michelle Obama's 2012 concert with Taylor.
The fundraiser had long been planned, but it sold out after Harris launched her campaign.
Guernsey noted the shift from despondency to excitement among Democrats and independents as hope returned.
Outside, Harris faced mixed reactions. Supporters with “Madame President” signs stood alongside Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supporters. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian protesters voiced their opposition with signs condemning Harris and Biden’s stance on Gaza.
Inside the theater, away from protesters, donors applauded Harris but acknowledged the looming challenges. They advised her to stay positive in the face of attacks from Trump and his allies — pointing out Trump’s “wild lies” and some of his and running mate Sen. JD Vance's (R-Ohio) statements as “just plain weird.”
Susan May, a Democratic-leaning independent voter, warned that the initial excitement might fade as campaign pressures mount, but Saturday was still a day of relief and new energy for Democrats.
“The level of excitement and enthusiasm for the vice president has just exploded,” said Patrick, highlighting the shift from internal debates to uniting the party’s vision for the nation.
Harris's momentum also extends to New Hampshire, where recent polls show her leading Trump by 6 percentage points. Activist enthusiasm was strongly felt during Harris campaign events, headlined by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a co-chair of Harris’s bid and potential running mate.
Bill Shaheen, introducing Whitmer at a Durham house party, reflected the change in mood among Democrats. Recalling sleepless nights of worry, he now saw Democrats as “euphoric,” confident in Harris as “the right candidate.”
Kelly Garrity contributed to this report.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
