Kamala Harris is in a leading position Monday toward the Democratic nomination for the November presidential election against Donald Trump, thanks to a wave of rallies within her party after Joe Biden’s shock withdrawal on Sunday, which plunged the campaign into uncertainty.
At 59, the first female vice president in US history immediately declared herself ready to “win the nomination” at the Democratic convention in mid-August in Chicago, after having obtained the support of the president, worn out by his 81 years.
However, various Democratic leaders, first and foremost Barack Obama, are still refraining from giving direct support to the woman who is also the first African-American to have acceded to the vice-presidency.
“We are going to be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead,” the former president warned, with convention delegates remaining free to vote. Another major party figure, Nancy Pelosi, has so far remained silent and is said to be in favor of an “open” nomination process.
Kamala Harris is scheduled to speak late Monday morning at the White House at a ceremony celebrating college athletic programs.
In just eight days, the race for the White House has seen two major historic twists that have completely reshuffled the cards of an election that Americans were not very passionate about: first the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13, then the thunderclap on Sunday of Joe Biden’s withdrawal, forced to give in under pressure from his own camp.
Now probably the oldest candidate in the race, at 78, Donald Trump has not failed to continue to joke about the president’s mental capacities. “Joe Biden doesn’t remember dropping out of the race yesterday!” he mocked on his Truth Social network.
Support from former potential rivals
It was while confined to his seaside villa in Delaware, to treat COVID, that Joe Biden announced on Sunday his intention to pass the torch.
“I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country that I step aside and focus solely on serving as president,” he wrote, defeated after weeks of doubts about his mental acuity and pressure from his own camp.
Giving his “full support” to Kamala Harris, a month before the convention that should have inaugurated her as candidate, he also announced that he would address the country “later this week”.
A handful of politicians who have already been mooted as potential running mates for Mr.me Harris — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly — quickly issued statements supporting her.
The vice president also received strong support from Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as from several important governors, some of whom are considered potential rivals: Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), Gavin Newsom (California), Wes Moore (Maryland), Andy Beshear (Kentucky) and JB Pritzker (Illinois).
Support also came from a slew of Democratic lawmakers, from the party’s moderate wing to the far left, represented by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “Now more than ever, it is critical that our party and our country come together quickly to defeat Donald Trump and the threat to American democracy,” the influential New York lawmaker urged.
In another bright spot for Kamala Harris, independent Senator Joe Manchin, a former Democrat known for his conservative positions, announced Monday on CBS that he would not be a candidate for president.
Joe Biden’s withdrawal also brought big rewards to Democrats, who celebrated the largest single-day fundraising for the presidential election: US$46.7 million (about CA$64.2 million).
Trump’s campaign in turmoil
On the Republican side, this announcement completely disrupts Donald Trump’s candidacy, forcing him to review his electoral strategy, which was very focused on the president’s form, featuring a blundering, stuttering or stumbling Joe Biden.
So many arguments that risk turning directly against the Republican if he is opposed to Kamala Harris, nearly 20 years his junior. There is no doubt that this former prosecutor will do everything to put the legal troubles of Donald Trump, convicted in criminal court at the end of May, back in the spotlight.
She could also make abortion one of her main angles of attack, this theme having proven its effectiveness with voters.
Donald Trump’s campaign team, however, assures that it is not completely taken by surprise, with officials having worked behind the scenes to prepare election ads attacking Kamala Harris.
They will be broadcast in a series of key election states over the next few days.
Taking advantage of the Democratic setbacks, the Republican candidate continues to tread the electoral terrain, capitalizing on the unifying effect of his party’s convention which officially inaugurated him as candidate last week.
He will hold another campaign rally in North Carolina on Wednesday.
With the Associated Press