Ex-Dem Fundraiser Says Internal Polling Showed Harris Trailed Rivals as Biden Replacement

A former Democratic fundraiser has alleged that internal party polling conducted before President Joe Biden ended his 2024 re-election campaign showed Vice President Kamala Harris ranked last among potential replacements, yet party leaders still made her the nominee. Lindy Li, who served on the Democratic National Committee's National Finance Committee and raised money for both Biden and Harris, makes the claim in her forthcoming book, «Unburdened,» which chronicles the months leading up to Biden's withdrawal.

Li said the polling, which was commissioned internally, placed Harris at the bottom of a group that included former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. «Kamala Harris came in dead last. It wasn't even close,» Li said in an interview. «Pete Buttigieg, who hilariously received 0% support from the Black vote, did better than she did.»

According to Li, the results were kept quiet because they conflicted with the party's preferred narrative. «The polling numbers went directly against the narrative that the party wanted to espouse,» she said. «They knew that skipping over Kamala Harris would be a slap in the face to the bedrock of the party, which is Black women in particular, and they just wouldn't have it.»

Li, who has since switched her party affiliation, described a small circle of operatives and fundraisers who were aware of the polling. «I'm part of the National Finance Committee. The list of membership is guarded like the papal conclave. But people talk. It's a very small group of people. That poll was commissioned internally,» she said. She added that while she is often skeptical of candidate polling, this survey was intended to provide an objective assessment of who could best challenge Donald Trump.

Beyond the polling, Li contends that the decision to elevate Harris was driven in part by fear of backlash from the vice president's online supporters, known as the «K-Hive.» «People were terrified of the online mob. The K-Hive isn't that numerous, but they're very, very toxic and they're very coordinated. No one wants to be labeled as a racist,» she said. Li also suggested that Harris's proximity to Biden's donors helped cement her position. «Oscar-worthy. Honestly, truly Oscar-worthy,» Li said of the effort to make Harris the inevitable choice.

The allegations add to existing debates over how the Democratic Party handled Biden's political vulnerabilities and the process that led to Harris becoming the nominee without a competitive primary. Li's book is expected to detail how many top Democrats had long recognized that Biden's age posed a political liability. Representatives for Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Connor Quincy

Technology Reporter

Connor Quincy covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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