Kamala Harris hits Chicago, Glencoe for fundraisers

Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris is fundraising in Glencoe on Sunday and in Chicago on Monday, with a busload of Illinois backers in Iowa over the weekend — including City Clerk Anna Valencia — to give her primary campaign a boost.

To conserve resources in the wake of disappointing fundraising, Harris has put renewed focus on Iowa, with the first presidential vote, and South Carolina, with the fourth balloting.

Harris, a California senator, cut most of her New Hampshire staff, staking her presidential future mainly on the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses.

Valencia, part of the Harris Illinois leadership team, said Sunday, “Don’t count her out.” Polls show Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren as the frontrunners.

Valencia was in Iowa with a busload of Illinois Harris supporters to canvass, huddle in strategy meetings and attend the Iowa Democratic Party’s Liberty and Justice Celebration dinner on Friday, a major, high-stakes event.

Others from Chicago in Iowa for Harris included Valerie Alexander, who comes out of the Hillary and Bill Clinton world, and Desiree Rogers, former chairwoman of Choose Chicago, former Johnson Publishing CEO and former Obama White House social secretary. Rogers is a member of the Harris national finance committee and the Midwest finance co-chair.

Harris, unlike the other Democrats running for president, has a fully formed Illinois operation. The window opened on Oct. 5 for delegate candidates to start passing petitions. “Our delegate slates are done,” Valencia said. The Illinois primary is March 17.

On Sunday night, according to an invitation obtained by the Sun-Times, co-hosts for the Harris fundraiser in Glencoe include Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, part of the Harris Illinois leadership team; political activist Linda Rae Sher; state Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview; and state Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield. It’s being held at the home of Stacy Sherr Michelon and Jon Michelon, with the tab ranging from $5,000 to $500.

On Monday morning in Chicago, according to another invitation, Harris is fundraising downtown with co-hosts including Valerie Alexander; Rotering; TV personality Star Jones; Cook County Board Commissioner Donna Miller, D-Lynwood; attorney John Schmidt; Democratic donor and fundraiser Alan Solow, an early backer of President Barack Obama; health and wellness entrepreneur Eric Langshur; Rogers; and Sher. The tab ranges from $2,800 to $500.

Harris has qualified for the Nov. 20 Democratic debate in Atlanta, hosted by MSNBC and the Washington Post.

ABOUT VALENCIA

Valencia said her husband, Reyahd Kazmi, backs Joe Biden for president. The couple are expecting their first baby in April.