Vice President Kamala Harris raised an impressive $47 million in the 24 hours following the Philadelphia debate, according to The New York Times. The massive fundraising haul came from 600,000 donors and marked Harris’ largest single-day fundraising total since she entered the race in July when she raised $81 million on her first day.
“Ms. Harris already had a significant financial edge over Mr. Trump entering September,” reported The Times. “Her operation said it had $404 million cash on hand, while Mr. Trump had $295 million.” This new surge in donations further solidifies Harris’ financial advantage heading into the next phase of the campaign.
This latest 24-hour haul also follows Harris’ record-breaking fundraising streak in August, when she raised $204 million. While Trump also saw a major fundraising boost earlier this year—raising $53 million in 24 hours after being convicted of felony falsification of business records in New York—Harris’ numbers reflect her growing momentum, particularly after a debate performance that left Trump struggling to defend his record.
Tuesday’s debate came after Trump’s challenging June face-off with President Joe Biden in Atlanta. That event was widely seen as a poor showing for Trump, who appeared agitated and had difficulty answering questions. Harris, in contrast, was sharp in her attacks on Trump’s record, particularly as he pushed false claims, including a bizarre viral hoax about migrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
Despite her fundraising success, Harris’ campaign remains cautious. Campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon expressed concern that continued media coverage of these record-breaking numbers could cause small-dollar donors to become complacent, believing their contributions are no longer necessary. Additionally, the Harris campaign is mindful of the broader electoral landscape they need to compete in, compared to Trump’s more focused state strategy.
“Trump is all in on one to two ‘must-win’ states. We don’t have that luxury,” O’Malley Dillon told The New York Times. As the race heats up, Harris’ financial edge could prove crucial in reaching voters across more states, a necessity as her campaign gears up for the final stretch of the election. The record-breaking fundraising will allow her team to expand its efforts, but they remain wary of overconfidence.