Friday’s call involving Vice President Kamala Harris and about 300 major Democratic donors disappointed many callers, with one donor declaring it “ridiculous” shortly before it ended, according to two sources familiar with the call.
One caller called it “mismanaged” and “rushed.” They added that expectations were not well managed and some participants left feeling admonished.
The person and two other sources said many donors joined in hopes of getting inside information on how President Joe Biden will move forward after a poor debate performance and a growing number of Democrats calling for him to drop out of the race. Instead, donors said they left the call feeling disappointed and didn’t gain any new insights or useful information.
“It was a total failure,” said one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to give a candid assessment. “It was harmful. It was poor planning.”
The call was arranged by Biden’s campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, not the campaign’s finance team, according to a source familiar with the planning. One source at the call said the donors in attendance represented a wide range of opinions — some die-hard Biden fans, some unsure of the way he’s headed, and plenty in between.
At the end of the call, hundreds of attendees were left speechless, and one person said the call was “ridiculous,” according to two sources.
One source emphasized that they interpreted the comment as a sign that the call was poorly handled, not as a criticism of Harris.
During the call, Harris, who was asked to join the call by Biden’s top advisers, praised Biden, campaign officials said.
“We know which candidate is putting the American people first in this election: our President, Joe Biden,” he said, according to campaign officials. “With every decision he makes in the Oval Office, he thinks about how it will affect working Americans. And I witness it every day.”
Harris also spoke positively about the Democrats’ chances of defeating former President Donald Trump. “I have something in my heart that I believe in,” Harris said, according to campaign officials. “This is something I feel you all need to hear and take with you when you leave. And tell your friends too. We will win this election. We will win.”
NBC News has reached out to the Biden campaign for comment.
The outcome of the call comes as donations to the Biden-Harris campaign and Democratic groups plummeted, and Harris was dispatched several times to speak to donors, swirling questions about Biden’s future.
The call with donors began with presentations by field organizers who expressed anger at the ongoing debate in the Democratic Party about endorsing President Biden, given what they were seeing and hearing from voters on the ground, according to a source with direct knowledge of the discussion. .
A source said it was an attempt to stop Harris from attending, saying it was normal for events involving high-ranking officials. But much to the chagrin of many donors, this source said, during the wait — about 20 minutes — donors were “admonished.” Challengers were told to “shut up and follow” Biden and not try to pressure the president.
Melissa Morales, founder and president of Somos Votantes, said, according to a transcript obtained by NBC News, “Please help turn down the volume on this conversation publicly.” “It’s time to stop the leaks and widespread rumours. Your message has been heard and received. But every day we continue this openly chaotic conversation, we’re closer to losing, regardless of who the candidate is.”
This did not sit well with some of the callers.
“These are donors who are not used to being told what to do,” the source said.
Another source on the call, who supports Harris as the Democratic nominee, pushed back on the donor’s feelings of disappointment.
This person said that many donors thought they were going to get deep and confidential information, but they immediately went to the media and proved why they shouldn’t.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Harris spoke at a campaign fundraiser in Provincetown, Massachusetts, praising Biden as one of the most consistent presidents in history.
Harris drew applause at various points in his speech when he talked about his and Biden’s record, including championing the rights of the LGBTQ community.
But the crowd’s loudest cheers came when someone in the 1,000-strong crowd chanted, “Go get him Kamal,” as Harris criticized Trump.
The applause lasted a few seconds as Harris smiled and looked out at the crowd of about a thousand watching.
After Harris left the stage, Lennie Alickman, 63, said he wanted to see Biden step aside.
“He’s on a tightrope. He has to be very careful not to alienate Biden,” Alickman said in response to Harris, who praised Biden throughout his speech. “I would actually like to see Kamala at the top of the ticket. He could implement and continue the policies of the Biden administration. I love Biden, but I’m not sure he’s up for the job. And I’m worried that he will lose against Trump.”
John Newton, 75, who attended the fundraiser, also said he believes Biden should drop out and wants to see Harris become the party’s nominee.
“I love Joe,” Newton said. “In a business context, it’s like your 81-year-old salesman who doesn’t cheat at a convention and pull out his license plates. And you have to go in and tell him that Judy is replacing you. It’s not fun. But unfortunately, this has to happen.”
Harris closed her speech at the event, which is said to have raised $2 million, by talking about her campaign manager when she ran for district attorney in San Francisco.
He told her, “You have to understand what you’re up against — and know that those who oppose progress will always try to say that the freedom movement is somehow subversive and that it undermines our nation or our traditions. . But what we do know is that when we fight to expand rights, it strengthens who we are as a nation.