CHICAGO — Major donors to Harris' campaign will attend several VIP events and revel in exclusive perks on the Democratic National Convention this week, including private brunches, evening cocktail parties and a tour of Wrigley Field, in keeping with a schedule obtained by CNBC.
The noble events that happen between the speeches of the fundamental speakers of the congress are open to a very powerful donors of the Harris Victory Funda joint Democratic fundraising committee that may accept donations well above traditional campaign limits, or about $900,000 per donor.
VIP week begins Monday night with a welcome reception at Morgan's on Fulton, a large venue where donors are brought from hotels just like the Ritz Carlton and the Four Seasons.
Donor parties have at all times been a staple of each presidential nominating convention. They are a vital opportunity for the campaign to showcase itself publicly and construct goodwill among the many individuals who contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund the campaign.
But this week's events for Democratic VIP donors within the Windy City seem like much more festive than in years past.
One reason is pent-up energy. The last time either party held a nominating convention in person was in 2016, so donors and the campaign fundraising professionals who host them are excited to fulfill this week. But there's more to it than that.
President Joe Biden's difficult decision to drop out of the race in July and the domino effect it triggered, which led to Democrats celebrating the election defeats of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in Chicago this week, are a form of political fairytale for major donors.
On Tuesday morning, they’ll meet for the primary of several brunches this week. The event might be held at the gorgeous Chicago History Museum and is billed because the “Path to Victory Brunch and Briefing.”
An exclusive tour of Wrigley Field, the famous home of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, will happen Wednesday. There, donors can enjoy “batting practice, tours, food vendors and more,” in keeping with the schedule from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT.
Before Harris' acceptance speech for her nomination on Thursday evening, donors might be invited to a reception at The Exchange, a historic four-star restaurant.
But this luxury treatment is only one a part of a broader donor acquisition strategy that has helped Harris raise record-breaking donations, each large and small.
Just weeks after Biden endorsed her last month, Harris' fundraising juggernaut had already overtaken that of her opponent, former Republican President Donald Trump.
Harris' political operation raked in $310 million in July, much of it after Biden dropped out on the twenty first of the month. This helped them start August with $377 million in money.
The Trump team, alternatively, raised only $138.7 million in July, lower than half of Harris's earnings. After surpassing Biden's fundraising in June, the Trump team had some money reserves that helped improve its profit margin.
Yet the corporate opened this month with just $327 million, $50 million lower than Harris.
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