WASHINGTON: Democrats rapidly united around Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she raced to secure the party’s nomination to take on Donald Trump in November election after President Joe Biden’s sensational exit from the presidential race.
Backed by Biden’s endorsement, the 59-year-old Harris received a flood of endorsements from prominent Democratic leaders on her first full day of active campaigning.
Earlier in the day, Harris presided over a White House event celebrating championship college basketball teams, where she praised Biden’s legacy as “unmatched in modern history.” The symbolic absence of Biden, who is recovering from a Covid infection at his Delaware beach house, underscored Harris’s sudden elevation to presumptive presidential candidate.
Several heavyweight governors, including figures once considered potential presidential hopefuls, voiced their support for Harris. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, along with the governors of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, publicly endorsed Harris with a unified call to “win this.”
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear also threw his support behind Harris, positioning himself as a likely contender for her vice presidential running mate.
Despite the swift endorsements, Harris faces the task of securing the nomination, which could be finalized as early as August 1st, amidst calls from some Democrats for a transparent and open primary process.
As America’s first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, Harris stands at a historic juncture to unite a party grappling with Biden’s exit, which has injected new energy into a previously demoralized Democratic base. The development reshapes an election that previously threatened to be a protracted battle between two elderly male candidates, potentially paving the way for the country’s first female president.
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Highlighting the momentum behind her campaign, Harris’s team reported an impressive $49.6 million raised in grassroots donations within 24 hours of Biden’s endorsement on Sunday. She spent over 10 hours on Sunday alone, engaging with over 100 party leaders, members of Congress, governors, and other key figures to shore up support.
Sources close to Harris indicated she also reached out to former President Barack Obama, who has yet to publicly endorse her candidacy.
The Democratic Party has pledged a transparent and orderly process to replace Biden, who withdrew citing concerns over his age and debate performance against former President Donald Trump in June.
One potential contender, independent Senator Joe Manchin, ruled out registering as a Democrat to challenge Harris, signaling a growing consolidation within the party around her candidacy.
The sudden shift in Democratic leadership has also impacted Republicans, forcing Trump to recalibrate his campaign strategy centered on attacking Biden’s age and health. Harris’s emergence not only alters the narrative on age but also pits Trump against a formidable opponent in a woman and former prosecutor.
Following Biden’s withdrawal, Trump launched a barrage of incendiary social media posts, characterizing Harris and Biden as a “threat to democracy.”
Harris faces significant challenges, including historical approval ratings and the need to redefine her public image through campaigning.
With expectations of a formal vote on August 1st to confirm her nomination ahead of the Democratic convention, Harris is poised to take center stage in the race to the White House.
Biden, who initially resisted calls to step down, described his presidency as the “greatest honor of my life” in a written statement announcing his support and endorsement for Harris, promising a national address later in the week.
