According to a report by CNBC, a group of 88 prominent current and former executives, including Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple, have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Larsen’s endorsement stands out for those in the cryptocurrency industry, as Ripple remains a major player in the blockchain and digital asset space. His support adds a unique crypto angle to Harris’s backing from the corporate world.
The endorsement letter includes a wide range of high-profile business leaders, including Aaron Levie of Box, Jeremy Stoppelman of Yelp, and Michael Lynton, chairman of Snap. This show of support highlights Harris’s appeal within the business community as the first presidential debate approaches on 10 September 2024.
While the letter itself is relatively short, it emphasizes Harris’s commitment to creating a stable and fair business environment. It states that electing Harris is “the best way to support the continued strength, security, and reliability of our democracy and economy.” The letter points to her role alongside President Joe Biden in advancing policies that promote business investment and competitiveness on the global stage.
Several prominent names from the tech and finance industries have signed the letter. In addition to Larsen, the signatories include notable figures such as James Murdoch, former CEO of 21st Century Fox, and philanthropist Lynn Forester de Rothschild. Other influential backers include private equity billionaire José E. Feliciano, sports mogul Ted Leonsis, and venture capitalist Ron Conway.
The initiative to organize this endorsement was led by four of Harris’s prominent supporters: Roger Altman, Blair Effron, Ken Chenault, and Ursula Burns. Altman, senior chairman of Evercore, and Chenault, former CEO of American Express, played key roles in gathering support for Harris within the corporate world.
This endorsement serves as a well-timed show of support for Harris, just days before her first debate with Donald Trump. Both candidates are vying for support with dueling economic proposals. Harris recently announced plans to increase the capital gains tax rate for high earners while offering tax relief for small businesses. Trump, on the other hand, has proposed cutting the corporate tax rate to encourage domestic production.
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