Democrats swiftly rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday, as she began her campaign to secure the party’s nomination to take on Donald Trump in November. Following President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the race, Harris, armed with Biden’s endorsement, gained significant support from Democratic leaders on her first day of campaigning.
At a White House event celebrating championship college basketball teams, Harris lauded Biden’s unparalleled legacy but did not address her own candidacy directly. The scene of the vice president alone in the White House, with Biden recovering from Covid-19 at his Delaware beach house, underscored the changing dynamics.
A wave of endorsements poured in from influential governors, including Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois’ J.B. Pritzker, Minnesota’s Tim Walz, Wisconsin’s Tony Evers, and Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, the latter becoming a top contender for Harris’s vice presidential pick. Despite her strong start, Harris must still win over key party figures, with some Democrats advocating for an open primary.
Harris, America’s first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, has the chance to unify the party following Biden’s historic decision to step aside. Her campaign reported raising an impressive $49.6 million in grassroots donations within 24 hours of Biden’s endorsement. Harris spent over ten hours on Sunday calling more than 100 party leaders, including former President Barack Obama, who has yet to endorse her. Harris’s rapid ascent injects new energy into the Democratic Party, potentially paving the way for America’s first female president.
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