Harris Secures $27 Million in New York Before Upcoming Economic Speech

NEW YORK — Vice President Kamala Harris held an impressive fundraiser in New York City on Sunday, raising a substantial $27 million, marking her largest fundraising achievement since officially becoming the leading candidate, taking over from President Joe Biden, as reported by a member of her campaign team.

Despite having raised a significant sum, the Harris campaign acknowledges that these funds are necessary to compete against the vast amount of advertising funded by wealthy outside groups that support her opponent, former President Donald Trump. A campaign aide, who chose to remain unnamed, revealed this during a discussion about the fundraising details.

The fundraiser took place at Cipriani Wall Street in a grand ballroom characterized by its Greek Revival architecture, featuring over a dozen columns. Attendees were packed closely together as Harris took the opportunity to challenge Trump for declining to participate in further debates.

“My opponent seems to be looking for an excuse,” she stated to the crowd. “I feel very strongly that we owe it to the American people, to the voters, to meet once more before Election Day.”

Afterwards, she reiterated her stance to reporters, noting, “We have more to discuss” upon her arrival outside Washington.

In contrast, Trump has dismissed the idea of additional debates, stating on Saturday that it is “just too late.” He emphasized this point at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, mentioning that early voting has already begun in some states. In recent days, voters in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Virginia have cast the first in-person ballots as they gear up for the election, with more states preparing to follow suit by mid-October.

Looking ahead, Harris announced her plan to deliver a speech on Wednesday, where she will outline her economic vision, expressing that “more can be done to invest in the aspirations and ambitions of the American people while addressing the challenges they face.”

She pointed to the rising costs of home ownership and consistently high grocery prices as significant concerns. “I grew up a middle-class kid, and I will never forget where I came from,” she remarked.

By providing more details about her economic agenda, Harris aims to connect with voters who are increasingly focused on economic issues, especially as they faced rising prices during Biden’s presidency. This approach also helps her delineate her economic stance from the current administration’s track record, as Trump has criticized her for not releasing comprehensive policy proposals since ascending to the top of the ticket.

Harris has advocated for tax cuts aimed at the middle class, along with tax increases for wealthy individuals and corporations. She has also embraced Trump’s proposal to eliminate taxes on tipped wages, albeit restricting her approach to low- and middle-income earners. Furthermore, she has critiqued Trump’s plans to impose high tariffs on numerous imported goods, asserting that such a move would exacerbate the cost of goods for consumers.

Polls indicate that neither Harris nor Trump currently holds a decisive advantage regarding economic matters. The latest survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that approximately 40% of registered voters believe Trump would manage the economy better, while a similar portion feels that Harris would be more effective. Moreover, nearly 10% of voters express a lack of trust in both candidates.

The same poll highlighted that the economy is a crucial issue for around 80% of voters as they contemplate their candidate choice, overshadowing other significant issues like health care and crime.

Interestingly, Harris has moved away from some of the more liberal positions she endorsed during her previous presidential campaign in 2020. This includes proposals to ban fracking, introduce a single-payer health care system, and decriminalize illegal border crossings.