Kamala Harris has finally talked about crypto. About time, right? At a fundraising event in New York City, the Vice President made it clear that if she becomes president, she’ll support investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and crypto.
Investors and the entire community have felt stifled under the Biden administration and expected this clearance from Kamala months ago.
“We will bring together labor, small business founders, innovators, and major companies. We will partner together to invest in America’s competitiveness, to invest in America’s future. We will encourage innovative technologies like AI and digital assets, while protecting our consumers and investors.”
– Kamala Harris.
A lot of people are asking if this will be any different from Biden’s approach, and that’s what matters here.
Now, let’s not forget about Donald Trump. The former president has gone all out, pledging to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who the industry really doesn’t like.
Just last week, Trump paid for burgers with Bitcoin at a crypto-themed bar in New York City. Before Biden dropped out, Trump said he was creating a crypto army to fight him.
Kamala’s economic proposals are directed squarely at voters who are struggling with high prices.
This has been a political nightmare for the Biden administration, so it makes sense that she’d focus on tax cuts and programs for low- and middle-income households. She said:
“We will create a safe business environment with consistent and transparent rules of the road. We will invest in semiconductors, clean energy, and other industries of the future, and we will cut needless bureaucracy.”
The event raised a record-breaking $27 million, making it the largest single fundraising event since she took the top spot on the Democratic ticket. Tickets ranged from $500 to almost $1 million.
If you paid the big bucks, you got a photo op with Kamala and access to two other events. A “Liberty luncheon” and a reception for top contributors.
Democrat big names like Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and celebrities like Anne Hathaway, Whoopi Goldberg, and Billy Porter showed up.
The event was billed as the last chance to meet Kamala in New York before the November election, and boy, did people show up with their wallets wide open.
Now the Democrats are flushed with cash. Kamala, the Democratic National Committee, and state parties raised $361 million in August alone.
Compare that to Trump’s $130 million raised by the Republican National Committee during the same period, and you see why Kamala has a solid financial lead.
Heading into September, Kamala and her party had $404 million in the bank, compared to Trump and the Republicans’ $295 million.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and other industry elites have advised Kamala to distance herself from the anti-crypto movement many associate with the DNC.
Brad wants Kamala to map out a clear and supportive crypto policy.
Polling data shows a neck-and-neck race. On NBC News, Kamala leads with 49% to Trump’s 44%, a slim 5-point margin.
But it’s so close that it could go either way.
One thing that’s working in Kamala’s favor is her rising popularity. Her favorability rating has gone up 16 points since July, the biggest boost in NBC News polling since George W. Bush post-9/11.
But Trump is still ahead in certain areas. Like on economic issues, where he is seen as stronger, particularly when it comes to inflation and border control.
Now these are important topics in swing states, and they could be the deciding factor for voters in the election.
