Kamala Harris to campaign in Cincinnati? Maybe, if Dems can find $1.5M

CHICAGO – Cincinnati's Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney and a group of Democrats hope to bring Vice President Kamala Harris to Cincinnati.

The cost and competition is steep.

Lemon Kearney, who is at the Democratic National Convention this week in Chicago, told The Enquirer Harris campaign officials said they had to raise $1.5 million for a visit to be considered.

The donation threshold came from discussions Lemon Kearney and the group had with the Harris Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee that benefits the Harris campaign and the Democratic parties in more than 40 states.

A message to Harris' campaign wasn't returned on Thursday.

'We plan to bring her here'

Lemon Kearney didn't have an exact figure on what they've raised but said they're close. She said she thinks most of the money would be raised beforehand and, if Harris accepts, would likely have both a public event and a fundraiser.

"We plan to bring her here," Lemon Kearney said. "That's our plan. That's our goal."

She described the group as about 25 Democrats from Cincinnati and Dayton who just want to support Harris. They began the effort soon after she ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket. Even if they raise the money, it's no guarantee she'll come.

"The fundraising side is different than the political side," Lemon Kearney said. "The political people decide where she goes. But either way, we're supporting her, and so that's a good thing."

They aren't alone. Democrats from Columbus and Cleveland have similar efforts to woo Harris to their cities.

Would Kamala Harris come to Ohio?

Ohio is no longer considered a swing state and is not on the presidential campaign itineraries like it used to be. Trump won Ohio in the past two presidential elections by 8 percentage points.

Lemon Kearney and her husband, former state Sen. Eric Kearney, said they think Ohio is in play and would be worth Harris' time. Ohio is the seventh-most populous state and has many great businesses, Eric Kearney said.

"I think that is why we're relevant," Eric Kearney said. "We have some people who are very generous in their donations."

When Kamala Harris last visited Cincinnati

Harris last came to town in April 2021 where she led a roundtable discussion on transportation. She then visited blaCk Coffee Lounge and ordered their coffee blend "Wakanda" in reference to the "Black Panther" movie.

"Wakanda forever!" she said as she left.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kamala Harris to campaign in Cincinnati? Maybe, if Dems can find $1.5M