Former Democratic fundraiser Lindy Li alleges that Kamala Harris privately cultivated relationships with major party donors in the days before President Joe Biden ended his 2024 reelection campaign, even as she publicly maintained that he would remain in the race.
In her new book, Unburdened, Li recounts the turbulent period surrounding Biden’s withdrawal and portrays Harris as carefully positioning herself for a possible succession.
Donor Calls Drew Scrutiny
Li, who previously raised money for both Biden and Harris, said the vice president’s approach was deliberate. According to Li, Harris avoided open criticism of Biden while making herself familiar to donors who could later become vital to her own campaign.
“It was all charade. She was auditioning for Biden’s endorsement, and the way that she did it was by imposing a fake rule on her staff to not talk about her ascending to the nomination,” Li said in an exclusive interview.
Li argues that party insiders had already begun to recognize the gravity of Biden’s political predicament after his damaging 2024 debate performance. Still, she said, many remained publicly quiet.
Harris Offered Loyalty, Li Says
The former fundraiser said Harris held conversations with contributors that stressed unity with Biden, although Li viewed those appearances differently.
“I was on the call; she would host calls with donors and pretend to support Biden and say there’s no daylight between Biden and herself. All the while she was auditioning for those very donors,” Li said.
Li recalled one donor call occurring shortly before Biden announced on July 21, 2024, that he would not seek another term.
“It was either on July 19th or July 20th. Actually, I think it was July 19, 2024; Kamala Harris held a call saying that there was no way that Biden would drop out and that she would stick with him until the end. And these were some of the biggest donors in the party,” Li recalled.
A Swift Push for Support
After Biden left the race, Harris rapidly consolidated support among Democratic figures, Li said. She described an intensive effort to connect with influential people across the party and to signal that Biden backed Harris’ bid.
“She was flattering people left and right. The first 24 hours were a very intensive charm offensive on her part. And that’s how she was able to consolidate it so quickly. She flattered people up the wazoo. It made it abundantly clear that Biden had endorsed her. And Biden initially — I don’t know if people know this, but he didn’t want to endorse her right away. It took him a while.”
Li said some prominent donors reacted sharply to the pre-withdrawal assurances, believing Biden’s condition had been apparent despite the public messaging.
“A lot of us have group chats. And the immediate reaction is what an effing waste of time. What a charade, how fake. Like these are like the wealthiest people in the country saying that. They were very aware they were being lied to, that Biden was clearly not okay and to be told that he was okay when he was clearly incapacitated,” Li said.
“It was insulting.”
