Vice President Kamala Harris secured the backing of more than half the Democratic delegates needed to become her party’s nominee and set a new fundraising record within her first 24 hours as a presidential candidate. This development followed prominent Democrats’ rallying behind her in their bid to defeat Republican Donald Trump.
Immediate Support and Fundraising Success
In a move to quell intraparty concerns over President Joe Biden’s prospects, leading Democratic officials, party leaders, and political organizations swiftly endorsed Harris. This show of unity came after weeks of speculation about Biden’s fitness for office. Notable endorsements included Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.
House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, initially advocating for a primary to strengthen the nominee, also offered her “enthusiastic support” for Harris. Over 1,200 pledged delegates indicated their support for Harris, surpassing the 1,976 benchmark set by Democratic National Committee rules.
Campaign Transition and Fundraising Milestones
Biden’s departure released his delegates to support any candidate at the upcoming convention, and Harris, endorsed by Biden, swiftly worked to consolidate this support. The Biden campaign was rebranded as Harris for President, transferring his political operation of over 1,000 staffers and a substantial war chest to Harris. Remarkably, Harris raised $81 million in the first 24 hours post-endorsement, a record-setting amount, with contributions from more than 888,000 donors. Additionally, her campaign saw a surge in volunteer registrations, with over 28,000 new volunteers signing up since the announcement.
Securing Endorsements and Building Momentum
Harris has actively sought endorsements from Democratic officials, making over 100 calls to secure support. Influential endorsements came from various political organizations and caucuses, including the AAPI Victory Fund, The Collective PAC, the Latino Victory Fund, and leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Black Caucus.
Noteworthy potential running mates, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, also endorsed Harris. Former President Barack Obama, however, withheld immediate endorsement to avoid the appearance of a coronation but pledged support for the eventual nominee.
Moving Forward
Harris’ first public appearance as a candidate was at the White House, where she praised Biden’s legacy and expressed gratitude for his endorsement. She emphasized her commitment to uniting the Democratic Party and the nation to defeat Trump’s agenda.
Biden plans to address the nation later this week to discuss his decision to exit the race. He expressed his full support for Harris and called for unity within the Democratic Party to ensure a victory in the upcoming election.
The Democratic National Convention, scheduled for August 19-22 in Chicago, will now adjust its nomination process to reflect Biden’s exit, with plans for a transparent and orderly selection process to ensure a candidate capable of defeating Trump in November.
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