Kamala Harris Touts Gloria, But Fire Remark Puzzles San Diego Democrats
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Vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris gave a pep talk: “San Diego County Democrats, you know that we are better than the failed leadership coming out of the White House. This is the moment where we are called upon to fight for the ideals of the country we love — for the rule of law, for our system of justice and for our very democracy.”
As expected, Sen. Kamala Harris on Saturday gave a full-throated endorsement of her “dear friend Todd Gloria” for mayor of San Diego.
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But her party’s nominee for vice president left some Democrats attending the San Diego County party’s largest annual fundraiser scratching their heads.
“I just want to take a moment to express my concerns and support for all of the families in San Diego that have been affected by the wildfires that are raging across our state,” Harris said in remarks recorded for a Zoom session.
“Joe Biden and I — we have talked about the pain and the hurt and the destruction that the fires and smoke and evacuations have caused,” she added in a virtual appearance that lasted about 4 minutes. “And of course we encourage everyone to continue following guidance from the local authorities and please stay safe.”
Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, the county Democratic Party chair, said afterward that he thought Harris meant to say Southern California, “which includes a host of counties that are suffering through fires.”
Rodriguez-Kennedy, who served as emcee Saturday, said between 500 and 600 people paid to attend the 40th annual Roosevelt Honors event.
“Still collecting contributions,” he said via email afterward, “but it will be between $200,000 (and) $250,000 for this night.”
(Admission started at $25 for young Democrats, but typical tickets went for $75. A VIP ticket of $125 included “a premium SD Dems swag kit, and access to a pre-event VIP Reception.” Dozens also answered a call to contribute more.)
Harris, speaking before a bank of flags at an unspecified location, remarked about a “real opportunity for historic change in San Diego County.”
“We have a chance to elect my dear friend Todd Gloria as mayor of San Diego, to flip the San Diego County Board of Supervisors blue and to elect Democratic majorities throughout our local governments in Southern California that truly represent their communities,” she said.
Her pep talk from a script continued: “It’s on all of us to ensure that every single one of the more than 1 1/2 million voters in San Diego County can safely cast their ballot and that we get other voters registered too.”
Harris said a handful of votes can make the difference between a blue seat and a red seat in a critical local election.
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San Diego County Democratic Party Chairman Will Rodriguez-Kennedy acted as virtual emcee.
County supervisor candidate Terra Lawson-Remer spoke with her daughter, EevaKai, fidgeting on her lap.
Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords spoke for 40 seconds at the Roosevelt Honors.
La Mesa Councilwoman Akilah Weber introduced her mother, Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, for an award at the party event.
Christie Davis, with a Todd Gloria for mayor poster behind her, accepted the Club of the Year award on behalf of the Pacific Beach Democratic Club. (She’s club president.)
Voices of Our City Choir director Steph Johnson sang “Blackbird” by The Beatles
State Secretary of State Alex Padilla boasted of voter registration efforts and declared: “We have the cleanest, most up-to-date voter rolls in a long time.”
California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis spoke remotely at the San Diego County Democratic Party awards event.
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez briefly appeared in a Dalmatian costume as her husband, Nathan Fletcher, spoke to Democratic donors.
Rep. Mike Levin introduced chair award winner Catherine Blakespear, the mayor of Encinitas.
Assemblyman Todd Gloria introduced Sen. Kamala Harris, the last majoor speaker in the 2-hour online event.
Key players in the Roosevelt Honors annual fundraiser for the San Diego County Democratic Party were shown at end of Zoom session.
“So let’s register people to vote,” she said. “Let’s phone bank for our local race, and in November let’s elect Todd Gloria as mayor of San Diego and Democrats up and down the ballot, and Joe Biden as president of the United States.”
Gloria, who easily won his local party’s endorsement a year ago, was endorsed by Harris in November. He faces fellow Democrat Barbara Bry in the mayoral race.
The other major speaker at the 2-hour event was former Rep. Gabby Giffords of Arizona,…
