On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris made her first public appearance since President Joe Biden endorsed her as his successor. This comes amidst growing support from influential members of the Democratic party.
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi wasted no time in endorsing the newly announced candidate. It is anticipated that the Democratic caucus will also give their approval, as no other significant competitors have come forward.
During the NCAA Sports Day celebration event at the White House on Monday afternoon, Harris made an appearance in front of a crowd consisting of athletes and coaches from Division I, II, and III who had won championships during the previous school year.
At the event, Harris stepped in as a replacement without discussing her own candidacy. This was due to Biden testing positive for COVID-19 and recuperating in Delaware. According to a letter from his physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s symptoms have almost completely resolved as of Monday.
Following the event at the White House, Harris made her way to Delaware to convene with campaign staff. During this time, Biden offered his encouragement via a phone call to Harris.
She has scheduled a campaign in Milwaukee on Tuesday.
“On the South Lawn of the White House, it was stated that Joe Biden has accomplished an unprecedented amount in the past three years, surpassing the legacies of most two-term presidents in just one term.”
“When I first got to know President Biden, it was through his son Beau, as we both served as attorneys-general in our respective states,” shared Harris.
Beau used to share anecdotes with me about his father, particularly about what kind of man and father Joe was. The very same qualities that Beau admired in his dad are the same ones that I witness in our current president on a daily basis.
“I have personally witnessed President Joe Biden’s unwavering honesty, integrity, and commitment to both his faith and family. His immense love for our country and his big heart are truly remarkable. It is undeniable that every day, President Biden tirelessly fights for the American people, and we are incredibly grateful for his selfless service to our nation.”
Next, Harris shifted his focus towards the athletes.
During the momentous occasion, Harris acknowledged the arduous journey that led each individual to that point. She acknowledged the hurdles and setbacks that they had to face, yet they persevered. Harris recognized the value of not only skill but also the unyielding resolve and tenacity required to achieve true greatness. “I know it was not easy to make it to this moment,” Harris said. “Each of you has faced challenges and obstacles, and you have endured. You have fought back and fought through and by doing so, you demonstrated that true greatness requires more than skill. It requires grit and determination.”
In just 105 days before the November 5th election, Harris is taking on a momentous challenge of becoming the first Black woman to hold the position of president.
Before she can become a presidential candidate, she needs to obtain the Democratic nomination. The convention is scheduled to take place from August 19 to 22 in Chicago.
During the primaries and caucuses, the Biden-Harris ticket managed to secure 10% of the 3,896 pledged delegates.
In addition to the pledged delegates, there are also 700 automatic “superdelegates” who are made up of House and Senate members, governors, state party chairs, and DNC members. However, these superdelegates are not allowed to cast their votes on the initial ballot unless it has been established that one candidate has secured an absolute majority of pledged delegates.
The party has recently disclosed its intention to perform an early virtual roll call vote, which is scheduled to take place between August 1 and August 7. The party leaders have confirmed this process on Monday.
On Wednesday, the committee responsible for setting the rules for the Democratic party’s nomination will convene.
According to Minyon Moore, the Democratic National Convention Chair, even though the current situation is unprecedented, the process they have in place is well-prepared. Moore emphasized that they have crucial timelines to adhere to and will ensure that the process remains impartial, as none of the candidates have currently secured a majority of the delegates to the convention.
According to a document obtained by CNN and DNC officials, those who aspire to become a nominee must express their interest and collect a minimum of 300 delegate signatures, with a cap of 50 from a single state.
Harris has secured the support of all 50 Democratic party state chairs, who are endorsing her as the party’s new nominee.
Harris’ supporters were thrilled to receive an endorsement from Pelosi, considering it a valuable addition to their ranks.
In a statement shared on X, Pelosi expressed great pride and optimism for the future of the United States as she officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency. Her support for Harris is not only political but also personal, as she wholeheartedly endorses Harris’ bid for the presidency.
As an observer, I have witnessed Kamala Harris’s unwavering fortitude and bravery in advocating for the rights of working families, particularly in the fight for women’s reproductive freedom.”
I have had the pleasure of knowing Kamala Harris for many years and can attest to her unwavering dedication to public service, rooted in her strong values and faith.
“I have full confidence that Kamala Harris is a brilliant politician who has made a smart move by being a woman in politics. Come November, she will lead us to victory,” affirmed the speaker.
Several Democratic leaders have thrown their support behind Harris, including a few potential running mates such as Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Governor Ray Cooper, and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. However, none of these individuals have expressed a desire for the position.
Governor Jared Polis of Colorado has indicated his willingness to appear alongside Harris on the ticket.
During an interview with CNN, Polis expressed his willingness to participate in polling, stating “If they do the polling and it turns out that they need a 49-year-old, balding, gay Jew from Boulder, Colo., they got my number.” Despite acknowledging the flattering nature of the speculation, Polis remained open to the possibility of being selected.
Several well-known Democratic governors, including Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Kathy Hochul of New York, and Wes Moore of Maryland, are endorsing Harris.
During an interview with CBS Mornings on Monday, Independent Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia denied the report that he will re-register as a Democrat and run for presidency.
According to ActBlue, small-dollar donors contributed a whopping $81 million within 24 hours of Harris’s endorsement, making it the largest 24-hour total in presidential history.
Out of the 880,000 donors who contributed to the cause, 60% of them made their very first donation this year.
According to ACTBlue, the reported sums encompass the funds collected from “the campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and joint fundraising committees.”
According to a senior aide at Future Forward, a leading Democratic super PAC, Democratic donors have pledged a whopping $150 million within the past 24 hours.
In preparation for the convention, the group had set aside a significant amount of funds, specifically $250 million, to be allocated for digital and television advertising purposes.
According to a campaign official, over 28,481 people who had not volunteered before, have signed up to volunteer with the campaign.
On Monday afternoon, Harris headed to Delaware to connect with the Delaware convention delegation and make an appearance at Biden’s campaign headquarters in Wilmington.
On Monday morning, she posted on X that one day has passed and there are still 105 more days to go. She expressed her determination to win together with others.
Upon her arrival, Kamala Harris was greeted by over 100 enthusiastic staffers who chanted her name in unison, creating an energetic and welcoming atmosphere.
During a phone call with his staff, Biden expressed his commitment to remaining fully engaged despite not being on the ticket. He emphasized his determination to accomplish as much as possible in the remaining six months of his presidency, both in terms of foreign and domestic policy.
On Monday, J.D. Vance returned to his hometown of Middletown, Ohio to attend a rally at the local high school. Later that night, he had another rally scheduled in Radford, Virginia.
During a speech to his supporters in Virginia, Vance expressed his belief that Joe Biden would be remembered as a quitter and one of the worst presidents in American history. According to Vance, Kamala Harris is even worse, stating that she is a million times worse than Biden.
Donald Trump is scheduled to hold his next rally on Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina.
