Kamala Harris sowed campaign seeds in Colorado years ago

Why it matters: Her supporters in the state will play a crucial role in generating energy for the remade Democratic ticket since President Biden withdrew his candidacy.

The big picture: Harris visited Colorado four times in a 15-month span, most recently addressing the graduates of the Air Force Academy in May, and visited numerous times dating back to 2020.

• In March, she spoke in Denver to tout the administration's work on issues that are important to Latino voters, praising its support for a path to citizenship for those living in the country without legal status.
• In 2023, she visited twice and attended a fundraiser at the home of one of her top donors from the 2020 campaign.

What they're saying: Immediately after Harris became the presumed nominee, her 2020 Colorado campaign co-chair Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez said she called the campaign to offer help. "I said, 'Let us know what you need. Let us know how we can help here in Colorado,'" the Denver council member told us in an interview.

Zoom in: Harris made a serious impression in Colorado in her 2020 presidential bid, raising $352,000, one of her highest state totals, campaign reports show.

• Amy Padden, a prosecutor like Harris, attended one of the fundraisers for her campaign before it ended in December 2019. "The power that she commands when she speaks to a crowd … she's obviously incredibly bright and has done an amazing job as vice president," Padden said in an interview.

The intrigue: Women, particularly women of color, are expected to play a significant role in supporting Harris. Padden said she expects to see the same in Colorado.

• "I think women that were maybe ambivalent about Hillary Clinton are going to show up in force to support Kamala Harris because we've seen what happens when voters are ambivalent," Padden said.

Fun fact: Harris' stepson, Cole Emhoff, graduated from Colorado College in 2017.