Can anyone stop Kamala Harris?

“There are two things that are important in American politics,” said Mark Hanna. “The first is money and I can’t remember what the second one is.” Kamala Harris, who cut her political teeth in the mega-rich world of west coast Democratic politics, understands that point well. 

The immediate threat to Harris comes from the right of her party

Following Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 election, she’s already made sure the big money is right behind her. Over the weekend, she and her husband Doug Emhoff successfully wooed the Democratic plutocrats who really decide things. The Soros family, for instance, and the LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman have already declared their support for her.

It’s not just that the many millions pledged to Biden-Harris 2024 can now be easily transferred to a Harris campaign. It’s that many of these mega donors, who were withholding their support for Biden, will now come flooding back with their billions. And where money goes, politicians will follow — so much so that Kamala Harris’s quick march to the nomination now looks unstoppable. 

The Clintons, Bill and Hillary, have thrown their support behind her. So has Senator Elizabeth Warren, who represents the left of the party establishment. Senator Jim Clyburn, the most powerful African-American Democrat, quickly weighed in behind Harris. As did former presidential hopefuls Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg. Her potential rivals for the nomination appear to have accepted her as the nominee. Gavin Newsom, the California governor, surprised many by quickly endorsing Harris last night. Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan governor, has ruled herself out of the running. Nancy Pelosi joined in late, endorsing her today.

Barack Obama, arguably the most powerful figure in the party, has not yet endorsed her. But that might be simply a question of timing: as overlords of the Democratic machine, they will only give Harris their imprimatur once she is the certain nominee. 

Meanwhile, the left of the party appears to have obediently rallied behind Harris. Three of the four members of “the squad” — the most vocally radical congresswomen in Congress — have all endorsed Harris: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley. The last Squad member Representative Rashida Tlaib has not yet commented. 

But the progressive wings of the Democratic coalition, who represent the real energy of the party and its activist base, are lining up in clear support. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has said she “1000%” supports Harris — proving once again that numeracy is not a Democratic forte. And the Congressional Black Caucus, CBCPAC, has backed Harris — as has the head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nanette Barragán.

The immediate threat to Harris could come from the right of her party. Sources close to Senator Joe Manchin, the Blue Dog Democrat turned independent, from West Virginia, said last night he is considering re-registering as a Democrat in order to challenge Harris. This morning, however, Manchin has also ruled himself out. 

Harris herself has said, in accepting Biden’s endorsement, that she wanted to “earn” the nomination. That could be a hint towards some sort of “blitz primary” process to give her candidacy legitimacy ahead of or during the convention in Chicago next month. But fear of a second Trump term can act as a powerful adhesive in Democratic circles — and with only 106 days left until America decides its next president, the party and its donors know that Harris is the easiest and least messy option. That’s why they are now all swarming towards her. Whether Democratic voters will be as easily convinced is another question.  

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This article was originally published on The Spectator’s UK website.