Democrats Find Relief in Biden's Departure, But Challenges Persist
In the first eight hours of Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, small-dollar donors collectively gave more than $46 million.
TroibNews 
Joe Biden has exited the race, leading to most of his party uniting behind Kamala Harris and experiencing a surge in grassroots fundraising. For the first time in nearly a month, Democrats are beginning a week without deep despair over their electoral prospects.
This moment was long-awaited—Biden's poor debate performance in late June, followed by several more blunders and a subsequent Covid diagnosis, had taken a toll.
Even before these events, Democrats had expressed concerns about Biden's age and indicated a desire for alternative leadership. In recent weeks, many were disheartened and others were waiting for Biden's decision.
And now?
“Hallelujah!” declared Doug Herman, a Democratic strategist involved in Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns. “Sanity returns.”
However, the Democrats still face significant challenges. Less than four months before the election, the party has neither a nominee nor a running mate. The prospect of a contested convention in Chicago looms large. Moreover, recent polling indicates that Harris might not perform significantly better against Donald Trump than Biden.
Despite a string of setbacks in recent weeks, Biden’s decision not to run has brought a sense of relief. Democrats now believe they have a fighting chance.
“About time,” said Paul Maslin, a top Democratic pollster who worked on Jimmy Carter’s and Howard Dean’s presidential campaigns. “Still uphill, but a chance. She has to avoid the big mistake. She’ll make a few small ones of course. But get these next three weeks mainly right. And we can go from there.”
Before Biden’s withdrawal, Michigan seemed particularly dire. A Detroit Free Press poll found Trump leading by 7 percentage points, with Biden losing every region in a state he had won by 2.8 points in 2020.
“The polling put out just today showing Trump up in Metro Detroit should give all Democrats pause,” Michigan State Sen. Mallory McMorrow told POLITICO. “But Harris at the top of the ticket will ignite the energy I know we need — from Detroit to the suburbs — to ensure Trump stays a one-term president.”
Steve Grossman, a former Democratic National Committee chair and superdelegate, said Biden’s decision “has given people a fresh bounce in their step,” while it has taken “the air out of the Trump campaign” after its convention in Milwaukee.
So enlivened were Democratic spirits that small-dollar donors contributed more than $46 million to Harris’ campaign within the first eight hours of her presidential bid. ActBlue, the platform for these donations, called it the biggest fundraising day of the cycle.
"The last three weeks have been gut-wrenching to say the least,” noted Mike Schmuhl, a member of the Democratic National Committee’s executive committee, Indiana Democratic party chair, and Pete Buttigieg’s former 2020 campaign manager. “I think the Dems have an opportunity to make the next three weeks and our convention energizing and inspiring so we can get to work and defeat Donald Trump.”
The excitement spread across various districts, from battlegrounds to both red and blue regions.
In Texas, State Rep. James Talarico, an Austin Democrat, stated that “Kamala is already firing up the anti-Trump coalition — the largest coalition in American politics,” adding, “We’re offering a young, energetic leader who can prosecute the case against an old, wannabe dictator.”
Asked how he was feeling, New York lobbyist and consultant Jason Ortiz — a registered Democrat — sent a video of himself singing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” at a past karaoke event.
“Joe Biden was the best president of my lifetime. Full stop,” he said. "We can focus anew on articulating a case against trumpism and fight to preserve and protect president biden’s legacy," Ortiz added.
A New York Democratic operative, who supported Biden but described the last few weeks as “Groundhog Day” for the president’s campaign, said, "It allows us to change the conversation and turn the page."
Even among Democrats who anticipate a Trump victory against Harris or any other Democrat, some speculated that she might at least close the gap in key states, thus helping Democrats in vital House and Senate races.
“I mean at this point Biden had lost swing voters and the base turnout we need,” said one Democratic strategist involved in down-ballot races in the Midwest.
While this strategist predicted Harris would lose, he added, “at least we get the base turnout to win all the key Senate races.”
Despite the relief, there was a pervasive sense of loss for Biden. Not only had he previously defeated Trump, but he had been a longstanding figure in Democratic politics.
Jay Parmley, executive director of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, stated that the mood was a “mixed bag,” describing it as “heartbroken for the president and excited about resetting the race.”
He commented, “I know how difficult it was for the president to make this decision because he’s been a consistent warrior for our party and he has served the country selflessly.”
Of course, there is a faction within the party that believed Biden would lose, and they are no more optimistic about Harris’ chances, seeing her nomination as inevitable while recalling her unsuccessful primary run four years ago.
“It didn’t work well for her in 2020,” Maslin noted. “But then again, Biden ran bad campaigns until he didn’t finally.”
Ultimately, Biden was widely celebrated as a party hero following his departure from the race.
“Joe Biden saves us again,” remarked Pete Giangreco, a longtime Democratic strategist.
Lisa Kashinsky, Sally Goldenberg, and Heidi Przybyla contributed to this report.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
This moment was long-awaited—Biden's poor debate performance in late June, followed by several more blunders and a subsequent Covid diagnosis, had taken a toll.
Even before these events, Democrats had expressed concerns about Biden's age and indicated a desire for alternative leadership. In recent weeks, many were disheartened and others were waiting for Biden's decision.
And now?
“Hallelujah!” declared Doug Herman, a Democratic strategist involved in Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns. “Sanity returns.”
However, the Democrats still face significant challenges. Less than four months before the election, the party has neither a nominee nor a running mate. The prospect of a contested convention in Chicago looms large. Moreover, recent polling indicates that Harris might not perform significantly better against Donald Trump than Biden.
Despite a string of setbacks in recent weeks, Biden’s decision not to run has brought a sense of relief. Democrats now believe they have a fighting chance.
“About time,” said Paul Maslin, a top Democratic pollster who worked on Jimmy Carter’s and Howard Dean’s presidential campaigns. “Still uphill, but a chance. She has to avoid the big mistake. She’ll make a few small ones of course. But get these next three weeks mainly right. And we can go from there.”
Before Biden’s withdrawal, Michigan seemed particularly dire. A Detroit Free Press poll found Trump leading by 7 percentage points, with Biden losing every region in a state he had won by 2.8 points in 2020.
“The polling put out just today showing Trump up in Metro Detroit should give all Democrats pause,” Michigan State Sen. Mallory McMorrow told POLITICO. “But Harris at the top of the ticket will ignite the energy I know we need — from Detroit to the suburbs — to ensure Trump stays a one-term president.”
Steve Grossman, a former Democratic National Committee chair and superdelegate, said Biden’s decision “has given people a fresh bounce in their step,” while it has taken “the air out of the Trump campaign” after its convention in Milwaukee.
So enlivened were Democratic spirits that small-dollar donors contributed more than $46 million to Harris’ campaign within the first eight hours of her presidential bid. ActBlue, the platform for these donations, called it the biggest fundraising day of the cycle.
"The last three weeks have been gut-wrenching to say the least,” noted Mike Schmuhl, a member of the Democratic National Committee’s executive committee, Indiana Democratic party chair, and Pete Buttigieg’s former 2020 campaign manager. “I think the Dems have an opportunity to make the next three weeks and our convention energizing and inspiring so we can get to work and defeat Donald Trump.”
The excitement spread across various districts, from battlegrounds to both red and blue regions.
In Texas, State Rep. James Talarico, an Austin Democrat, stated that “Kamala is already firing up the anti-Trump coalition — the largest coalition in American politics,” adding, “We’re offering a young, energetic leader who can prosecute the case against an old, wannabe dictator.”
Asked how he was feeling, New York lobbyist and consultant Jason Ortiz — a registered Democrat — sent a video of himself singing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” at a past karaoke event.
“Joe Biden was the best president of my lifetime. Full stop,” he said. "We can focus anew on articulating a case against trumpism and fight to preserve and protect president biden’s legacy," Ortiz added.
A New York Democratic operative, who supported Biden but described the last few weeks as “Groundhog Day” for the president’s campaign, said, "It allows us to change the conversation and turn the page."
Even among Democrats who anticipate a Trump victory against Harris or any other Democrat, some speculated that she might at least close the gap in key states, thus helping Democrats in vital House and Senate races.
“I mean at this point Biden had lost swing voters and the base turnout we need,” said one Democratic strategist involved in down-ballot races in the Midwest.
While this strategist predicted Harris would lose, he added, “at least we get the base turnout to win all the key Senate races.”
Despite the relief, there was a pervasive sense of loss for Biden. Not only had he previously defeated Trump, but he had been a longstanding figure in Democratic politics.
Jay Parmley, executive director of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, stated that the mood was a “mixed bag,” describing it as “heartbroken for the president and excited about resetting the race.”
He commented, “I know how difficult it was for the president to make this decision because he’s been a consistent warrior for our party and he has served the country selflessly.”
Of course, there is a faction within the party that believed Biden would lose, and they are no more optimistic about Harris’ chances, seeing her nomination as inevitable while recalling her unsuccessful primary run four years ago.
“It didn’t work well for her in 2020,” Maslin noted. “But then again, Biden ran bad campaigns until he didn’t finally.”
Ultimately, Biden was widely celebrated as a party hero following his departure from the race.
“Joe Biden saves us again,” remarked Pete Giangreco, a longtime Democratic strategist.
Lisa Kashinsky, Sally Goldenberg, and Heidi Przybyla contributed to this report.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
