The political drama leading to Vice President Kamala Harris’s historic yet short-lived campaign for the presidency began behind the scenes well before President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the race.
According to a Vanity Fair exclusive, Harris’ team had been quietly preparing for such a moment, writes Chris Whipple, who provided the magazine a glance of the historic campaign (an excerpt of his new book, Uncharted). Having considered the possibility since 2021, when Harris briefly assumed presidential duties during Biden’s medical procedure, Voles and her advisers launched a contingency operation to secure the nomination if Biden stepped aside. The strategy involved recruiting outside operatives and rallying Democratic senators to publicly urge Biden’s withdrawal if necessary.
Having considered the possibility since 2021, when Harris briefly assumed presidential duties during Biden’s medical procedure, Voles and her advisers launched a contingency operation to secure the nomination if Biden stepped aside. The strategy involved recruiting outside operatives and rallying Democratic senators to publicly urge Biden’s withdrawal if necessary.
By July 18, just three days before Biden announced his decision, veteran Democratic strategist Stephanie Schriock was reaching out to experts to prepare an emergency nomination plan. Key Democratic figures, including Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama, initially resisted an automatic coronation of Harris, preferring a primary contest. However, once Biden privately informed Harris of his decision on July 21, her team swiftly mobilized.
Harris immediately reached out to influential figures, including the Clintons and the Obamas. While Bill and Hillary Clinton offered immediate support, Barack Obama hesitated, advocating for a more open process. Despite this, Harris quickly consolidated backing from Democratic governors and senators, ensuring her position as the presumptive nominee within days.
With momentum behind her, Harris formally launched her campaign. Enthusiastic rallies and strong grassroots support created an illusion of an inevitable victory. Yet, internal polling continued to indicate a tight race against Donald Trump. Campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon and senior adviser David Plouffe remained publicly optimistic, even as concerns grew over Harris’s performance in key battleground states.
On election night, the campaign’s worst fears materialized. As results trickled in, Harris’s path to victory narrowed. By midnight, campaign analysts confirmed the devastating reality—there was no viable route to the presidency. At 12:45 a.m., Cedric Richmond addressed a stunned crowd at Howard University, delivering the news that the campaign had come to an abrupt and painful end.
By dawn, discarded posters and American flags lay scattered across the campus, marking the end of Harris’s meteoric rise—and an uncertain future for the Democratic Party.
