Kamala Harris, the Vice-President of the United States, is for the first time stepping into the presidential race by campaigning in Wisconsin, a critical swing state, following an adequate show of support from Democratic delegates. When President Joe Biden conceded his re-election bid after enduring several weeks of internal party strife and a decline in popularity in his fight against Republican Donald Trump, Harris emerged as the likely Democratic candidate.
Confirmed as the candidate by the Democratic Party merely a day and a half post Biden’s backing, Harris sealed the nomination with the majority of the party’s delegates rallying behind her, according to the campaign. “I am proud to have obtained the requisite support to become our party’s candidate,” Harris announced in a late-night statement on Monday. “I eagerly await the formal acceptance of the nomination.”
With an unofficial delegate tally by the Associated Press showing Harris soaring past the 1,976-vote threshold needed for the nomination with more than 2,500 votes, fellow candidates seem to have conceded defeat. Not a single vote went to any other contender in the AP tally, with only 54 delegates yet to declare their allegiance.
Wisconsin is an important opportunity for Harris, the former prosecutor from California, aged 59 years, to reenergise the Democratic campaign and argue her capability to best Trump. The VP is due to make a speech at a local political event in Milwaukee at 1.05pm.
Drawing upon her experience as both the district attorney of San Fransisco and attorney general of California, Harris outlined her intended strategy against Mr Trump, referring to her track record of prosecuting “fraudsters” and “predators.” Asserting her understanding of her business-fraudulent opponent Trump, a convicted felon found guilty of sexual assault in a civil court.
Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, the so-called Rust Belt states, are believed to be the vital states for victory in the elections where Biden was reportedly falling behind Trump. Paul Kendrick, the managing director of the Democratic group Rust Belt Rising, opined, “There’s young people and independents who were unsatisfied with their choices, and Harris has the opportunity to captivate them.”
Ms Harris’ campaign finances have surged, having secured £81 million (€74 million) since Mr Biden moved off centre stage on Sunday. This near-matches the £95 million that was available to Biden’s campaign at June’s conclusion. The so-called “Dembargo” on political funding by Hollywood donors has lifted; high-profile figures ranging from Cardi B to Jamie Lee Curtis and Shonda Rhimes extended their support to Ms Harris.
At the same time, attempts are being made by Mr Trump and his brigade to link the vice-president to several of Mr Biden’s least popular policies, such as immigration. The Trump campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, labelled Ms Harris’s track record as one of sheer incompetence. He also emphasised that her policies are indistinguishable from Biden’s, and vice versa.
Whether she will manage to uplift the declining poll numbers in key states is still uncertain. According to leading Democrats in Wisconsin, Ms Harris presents the party with the chance to rejuvenate unexcited voters who were underwhelmed by both Mr Biden and Mr Trump.
With Mr Biden stepping down, speculation is rife about who may complete the ticket as Ms Harris’s vice presidential candidate. The list of probable candidates includes the likes of Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky, US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, North Carolina’s governor Roy Cooper, senator Mark Kelly from Arizona, Pennsylvania’s governor Josh Shapiro, J.B. Pritzker, governor of Illinois, and Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan.
Mr Biden appears to have almost completely recovered from his Covid symptoms, according to his physician. During a visit by Ms Harris, Mr Biden spoke to his former campaign team at his Wilmington, Delaware headquarters. He endorsed Ms Harris’ presidential run and gave an inspiring speech to the group, encouraging them to devote all their efforts to supporting Ms Harris.
Biden also promised to actively campaign for his vice president. His last public appearance was on Wednesday when he arrived at a US air base in Dover, Delaware, after being diagnosed with Covid-19 while campaigning in Las Vegas.