Around 24 hours following President Biden’s surprising withdrawal from the presidential race, Pete Buttigieg convened approximately 100 of his former donors in a virtual meeting on Zoom. The purpose of the call, as outlined in the invitation and recounted by three participants who shared details under the condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the discussion, was to garner support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
During the Q&A session, Mr. Buttigieg, currently serving as the transportation secretary and a contender in the 2020 presidential campaign, made a remarkably candid admission that resonated with at least one individual on the call. This sentiment, which he later conveyed on television, indicated his keen interest in potentially becoming Ms. Harris’s running mate, should the opportunity arise.
Upon hearing Mr. Buttigieg’s remarks, some participants expressed their enthusiasm for the idea of him joining the ticket and encouraged others to advocate for him within Ms. Harris’s circle, as recalled by one attendee.
Subsequently, members of this tight-knit group of affluent Democrats have initiated efforts to support Mr. Buttigieg’s aspirations for higher office. Following the Zoom call, certain individuals began reaching out to influential Democrats linked to Ms. Harris in a somewhat informal and disconnected manner, on behalf of Mr. Buttigieg.
This narrative is compiled from discussions with eight fundraisers for Mr. Buttigieg who were either present during the Zoom call or are actively involved in the subsequent outreach.
