Dems are feeling uncharacteristic optimism as 100-day mark approaches
At Vice President Kamala Harris' initial high-dollar fundraiser and during the Sunday talk shows, Democrats found a renewed sense of enthusiasm about a presidential race that had previously caused them significant distress over the past month.
TroibNews 
PITTSFIELD, Massachusetts — Democrats are turning their attention toward future possibilities without the constraints of past setbacks.
As Sunday rolled in, not only did it bring the countdown of the last 100 days until Election Day into sharper focus, but it also marked the passage of one week since President Joe Biden decided to step down, passing the leadership torch to Vice President Kamala Harris. This shift has sparked lively discussions among Democrats nationwide about the newly reshaped presidential race.
The party has recently experienced severe anxiety regarding Biden's potential to secure victory over former President Donald Trump, especially following a disastrous debate and subsequent internal discord. Calls from numerous Democratic legislators for Biden's withdrawal highlighted fears that his continued candidacy might not just lead to Trump's re-election, but also risk Democratic control over Congress and state governments.
"There's a burst of energy out here,” said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday morning. “Joe Biden, we've heard it, delivered across the board on so many issues, but there's a new burst of energy. I was at a labor rally yesterday and I've not seen anything like this for 15 years.”
Despite a brighter outlook, Harris isn't leading the polls. Republicans continue to rally around Trump, who maintains his lead in national and state polls. Trump has also matched Biden’s campaign funds, despite earlier disparities.
The renewed vigor among Democrats is evident with a Wall Street Journal poll finding that 81 percent of Harris's supporters are enthusiastic, a significant leap from the 37 percent enthusiasm for Biden noted in an earlier poll.
Since Harris ascended to the top of the ticket, her campaign has raised $200 million, with two-thirds of the donations coming from first-time donors. Additionally, 170,000 individuals have registered to volunteer.
Vice presidential hopefuls have expressed their excitement about Harris's leadership across various Sunday shows.
“It's a level of energy that frankly I have not seen on the campaign trail in a long time,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on “Fox News Sunday.”
”Our candidate is the Energizer Bunny,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker commented on ABC’s “This Week.” “She’s been everywhere all the time over the last several days, and we’re excited about that, to get to see her in the battleground states and all over the country.”
Battleground state Democratic parties are capitalizing on this surge of enthusiasm. State leaders plan to distribute memos highlighting the fundraising success and volunteer engagement that are invigorating local races.
“With strong Democratic candidates, renewed energy across the ticket, record-breaking fundraising, enthusiastic grassroots support, targeted investments from national partners, and a well-oiled coordinated campaign emphasizing our party’s strengths and innovative programs, along with Republicans running on their toxic Project 2025 agenda with convicted felon Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, there’s never been a better time to get involved in our state party,” Yolanda Bejaron, the Arizona Democratic Party chair, stated.
Democratic attacks have also shifted in tone, emphasizing the "weirdness" of Trump and his running mate JD Vance, moving away from the previous focus on them as threats to democracy.
At Harris’s first major fundraiser in Massachusetts since launching her campaign, excitement was palpable. The event attracted roughly 800 people and tripled its fundraising goal, raising over $1.4 million.
“May our ardent support be the wind in her sails,” said James Taylor, introducing Harris to a standing ovation at Pittsfield's Colonial Theatre.
Sen. Ed Markey expressed to POLITICO that Harris brings an "X factor" to the campaign, sparking a growing excitement within the party.
Jocelyn Chapman from Adams, Massachusetts, shared her anticipation at the event, saying, “I’m so excited, just like everybody else. Everything just flipped on a dime.”
Reports from Mia McCarthy in Washington, and Lisa Kashinsky in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with contributions from Shia Kapos and Isabella Ramírez.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
As Sunday rolled in, not only did it bring the countdown of the last 100 days until Election Day into sharper focus, but it also marked the passage of one week since President Joe Biden decided to step down, passing the leadership torch to Vice President Kamala Harris. This shift has sparked lively discussions among Democrats nationwide about the newly reshaped presidential race.
The party has recently experienced severe anxiety regarding Biden's potential to secure victory over former President Donald Trump, especially following a disastrous debate and subsequent internal discord. Calls from numerous Democratic legislators for Biden's withdrawal highlighted fears that his continued candidacy might not just lead to Trump's re-election, but also risk Democratic control over Congress and state governments.
"There's a burst of energy out here,” said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday morning. “Joe Biden, we've heard it, delivered across the board on so many issues, but there's a new burst of energy. I was at a labor rally yesterday and I've not seen anything like this for 15 years.”
Despite a brighter outlook, Harris isn't leading the polls. Republicans continue to rally around Trump, who maintains his lead in national and state polls. Trump has also matched Biden’s campaign funds, despite earlier disparities.
The renewed vigor among Democrats is evident with a Wall Street Journal poll finding that 81 percent of Harris's supporters are enthusiastic, a significant leap from the 37 percent enthusiasm for Biden noted in an earlier poll.
Since Harris ascended to the top of the ticket, her campaign has raised $200 million, with two-thirds of the donations coming from first-time donors. Additionally, 170,000 individuals have registered to volunteer.
Vice presidential hopefuls have expressed their excitement about Harris's leadership across various Sunday shows.
“It's a level of energy that frankly I have not seen on the campaign trail in a long time,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on “Fox News Sunday.”
”Our candidate is the Energizer Bunny,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker commented on ABC’s “This Week.” “She’s been everywhere all the time over the last several days, and we’re excited about that, to get to see her in the battleground states and all over the country.”
Battleground state Democratic parties are capitalizing on this surge of enthusiasm. State leaders plan to distribute memos highlighting the fundraising success and volunteer engagement that are invigorating local races.
“With strong Democratic candidates, renewed energy across the ticket, record-breaking fundraising, enthusiastic grassroots support, targeted investments from national partners, and a well-oiled coordinated campaign emphasizing our party’s strengths and innovative programs, along with Republicans running on their toxic Project 2025 agenda with convicted felon Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, there’s never been a better time to get involved in our state party,” Yolanda Bejaron, the Arizona Democratic Party chair, stated.
Democratic attacks have also shifted in tone, emphasizing the "weirdness" of Trump and his running mate JD Vance, moving away from the previous focus on them as threats to democracy.
At Harris’s first major fundraiser in Massachusetts since launching her campaign, excitement was palpable. The event attracted roughly 800 people and tripled its fundraising goal, raising over $1.4 million.
“May our ardent support be the wind in her sails,” said James Taylor, introducing Harris to a standing ovation at Pittsfield's Colonial Theatre.
Sen. Ed Markey expressed to POLITICO that Harris brings an "X factor" to the campaign, sparking a growing excitement within the party.
Jocelyn Chapman from Adams, Massachusetts, shared her anticipation at the event, saying, “I’m so excited, just like everybody else. Everything just flipped on a dime.”
Reports from Mia McCarthy in Washington, and Lisa Kashinsky in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with contributions from Shia Kapos and Isabella Ramírez.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
