At Kamala Harris’s first rally as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee – a campaign stop at a suburban Milwaukee high school – spirits in the crowded auditorium were high.
“Oh my God, I think this is something long overdue – and she will do great,” said Pat Bridges, a 65-year-old retiree who attended the event on Tuesday.
The timing and location of the rally, which drew enthusiastic Harris supporters from across Wisconsin, was significant. Last week, thousands of Republicans from across the country descended on the Fiserv Forum, just eight miles away, for the Republican national convention, a week in which Republicans also appeared unified around their candidate, although they presented a vastly different vision for the country.
Since Joe Biden’s sudden announcement that he was dropping out of the race, Harris has quickly consolidated support from across the Democratic party, earning Biden’s endorsement, and in short order, the support of key congressional Democrats, including the powerful former speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi.
During an emotional appearance at Biden’s former campaign headquarters, the president formally passed the baton to Harris, calling in from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he is recovering from Covid-19.
“You’ve always had my back,” said Biden, “And I promise you, I will always have your back.”
With the president’s blessing, and the momentum of already being on the ticket, Harris’s campaign takeover has moved at lightning-quick pace. Whether Harris is able to capture key voter blocs like the independent “double haters” who dislike Biden and Donald Trump is not yet clear. According to the latest polling, Harris continues to closely trail Trump, although by a narrower margin than Biden did before dropping out.
But if her inaugural rally was any sign, Harris will probably mobilize members of the Democratic party base.
“We needed to reinvigorate the ticket,” said Mary Beth Driscoll, who attended the event with a friend. “And we have done that.”
The rally took on special significance for many in the crowd, given Harris’s already historic position as a Black woman and a presumptive nominee for president from either party.
“Seeing Kamala here … my granddaughter will know she can be whatever she wants, and do whatever she wants,” said Bridges, who is Black, and attended the rally with her young granddaughter.
Janette Braverman, who served as the first Black county supervisor from Ozaukee county, Wisconsin, before stepping down in 2022, said the excitement in the room was palpable – and stronger than past Biden events. “It was time” for Harris to take over the Democratic presidential ticket, said Braverman. “I was concerned for Biden’s health. And [Kamala] has been ready.”
“I’m extremely excited – I’m thrilled,” said Phoebe Williams, an attorney who arrived early at the rally to find seating up close. “As an African American lawyer, to see another woman African American lawyer ascend to the top is just thrilling.”
Harris has earned a social media boost as the face of numerous memes, and got the nod from pop star Charli XCX, who announced on X on Sunday that “Kamala IS brat” – a reference to the singer’s viral 2024 dance pop album, Brat. The Harris campaign has embraced the meme in the hope it will garner support from young voters.
“I felt strongly about Biden because I knew his policies were what I was aligned with,” said Olivia Jessup-Anger, a high school student from the Milwaukee area who attended the rally with two friends from school. “My confidence now is much higher though – it feels exciting there’s so much energy in the room. And yes, Kamala is brat.”
Her friend, Natalie Janch, added: “TikTok edits of Kamala are all over my ‘for you’ page.”
She said: “There’s no question that Kamala is brat.”
For Mikey Sabaka, a high-school teacher from Madison, who drove to Milwaukee to see Harris speak on Tuesday morning, the moment felt like a relief.
“I feel like we’ve got a chance now,” he said.
“I don’t know how long this will last,” said Sabaka, of the ebullient mood in the room and across the Democratic party. “But it’s definitely real.”
