Vice-President Kamala Harris has garnered the backing of the majority of Democratic delegates to become the party’s presidential nominee. According to a Monday evening survey by the media, she has secured endorsements from more than the 1,976 delegates required to clinch the nomination on the first ballot.
This development positions Ms. Harris to become the party’s nominee, set to face Republican Donald Trump in the November presidential election. The nomination will be formally confirmed during a roll call vote at next month’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.
Delegates, who represent their respective electoral areas, make pledges of support that are non-binding until the actual vote, though changes are unlikely. No contender has emerged to challenge Ms. Harris since President Joe Biden exited the race on Sunday, following mounting pressure from senior party members after a lackluster debate against Trump. Should her delegate support hold through the scheduled voting period from August 1-7, Ms. Harris will officially secure the nomination.
The survey reflects a significant surge in support for Ms. Harris following President Biden’s withdrawal. Since his announcement, her campaign has received millions in donations, and key Democratic figures have endorsed her candidacy. Addressing her campaign team in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday evening, Ms. Harris focused her remarks on Donald Trump, drawing parallels to her career as a California prosecutor tackling predators and fraudsters.
Highlighting the contrast between the Biden-Harris vision and Trump’s, she stated, “Donald Trump wants to take our country backwards… we believe in a brighter future that makes room for all Americans.” She also praised Mr. Biden’s achievements, calling her tenure as his vice-president “one of the greatest honours of my life.”
Before Ms. Harris spoke, Mr. Biden, isolating due to Covid-19, made his first comments since exiting the race via a phone call. He expressed gratitude to his aides and urged them to support Ms. Harris, calling her “the best.” Acknowledging the surprise of his withdrawal, he assured continued engagement in the campaign, emphasizing the importance of democracy.
Meanwhile, Trump’s new running mate, Senator JD Vance, criticized both Ms. Harris and Mr. Biden at a campaign event in Virginia. He described Biden as a quitter and a failure, and labeled Harris as significantly worse, accusing her of endorsing Biden’s failures and lying about his fitness for office.
