Shadow campaign effort for Kamala Harris emerges as calls for a Biden exit intensify

A shadow campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris has surfaced as President Joe Biden resists calls to drop his reelection bid. 

United for Harris is the first official organized effort aimed at supporting a Harris bid for the White House, even as Harris insists she is still supporting Biden as his running mate. The pro-Harris effort, which is not approved by the vice president or her team, is a volunteer recruitment campaign started by supporters of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaigns, according to NBC News, who first reported on the group.

As many Democrats question Biden’s ability to lead their party to victory this November, with some Democrats voicing support for an open convention where multiple candidates compete to head the top of the ticket, United For Harris hopes to smooth a pathway to the Oval Office through Harris. 

Matt Ortega, a Democratic strategist who served on Clinton’s campaign told the outlet, “Effectively, Harris was already voted on by the primary voters, so she has democratic legitimacy.”

While not authorized by Harris, the group told NBC it wants “ to put it out there that there are folks who are wanting to rally around the vice president, should Joe Biden step aside.” 

In a not-so-subtle jab at Biden’s reelection bid, the group’s website states “Poll after poll after poll suggests a ticket led by Harris does better than the path we’re on.” 

Democrats continue to debate over the best course of action for their party after Biden’s campaign has lost steam in recent weeks.  After his poor performance during the first presidential debate sparked panic in his own party, Biden has shot down Democratic calls to step down his reelection bid. 

Democratic leader’s private and public concerns about the state of Biden’s bid for another four years have fueled momentum for an alternative candidacy to the 81-year-old incumbent. 

As the No. 2 Democrat in the country, Harris appears to be Biden’s presumed heir. However, some in her party have expressed concern that the Vice President may not have a much better chance of pulling off a presidential win than her boss.

Democrats including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) warn that party bosses are less than enthusiastic about a Harris candidacy, signaling an open convention could be in the books at the Democratic National Convention next month.