WASHINGTON — An election shakeup, unlike any other in American history, took place Sunday when President Joe Biden ended his bid for reelection less than a month before the Democratic National Convention.
In his social media post announcing the move, President Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and it appears that many Democrats have followed in the president's footsteps.
In the first five hours after President Biden made his announcement, the Harris campaign raised $27.5 million, according to ActBlue, a non-profit political fundraising platform.
A post from ActBlue on X, formerly known as Twitter, said that the donations came from grassroots donors who are "excited to support (Harris) as the Democratic nominee."
ActBlue later added to that, saying in the first seven hours of the Harris campaign, grassroots donors have given $46.7 million to support the vice president.
"This has been the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle," a post from ActBlue on X said. "Small-dollar donors are fired up and ready to take on this election."
This will get added to the more than $91 million that was already in the bank account belonging to what was then known as the Biden campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission. Since the Biden campaign's account was registered in both the president's and vice president's names, Harris has access to the money.
The Biden campaign, known officially as Biden for President, has filed paperwork with the FEC to become Harris for President.
Despite being Biden's running mate, Harris will not automatically become the Democratic nominee for president. Democratic party rules allow the party's delegates the freedom to choose another candidate with the nominee being finalized at the Democratic National Convention, which will be held Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.
Many top Democrats, including Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and his wife, former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, former President Bill Clinton and his wife former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro have endorsed Harris.
However, some others, including former President Barack Obama and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have yet to endorse the vice president.
Election Day is Nov. 5.
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