In a statement posted on X, President Biden finally conceded to the intense pressure for him to end his reelection dream on Sunday. “While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term,” he said. “I will speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision.”
He thanked his vice president, Kamala Harris, “for being an extraordinary partner in all this work,” and later endorsed her as his choice to replace him at the top of the Democratic ticket. “My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my vice president,” he wrote. “And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.”
Their voices blended as one on Monday when Harris, 59, traveled to Delaware for her first major address after receiving the baton from Biden. Harris quickly cut to the chase with an opening salvo about reproductive rights, which is sure to be a key talking point as she prepares for Trump, which many perceive as a showdown between a former prosecutor and a convicted felon. “Knowing if Trump gets the chance, he will sign a national abortion ban to outlaw abortion in every single state,” she warned. “But we are not going to let that happen.”
Her energy was expansive and animated, and she offered her credentials when it came to dealing with lawbreakers. “Predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their… gain, so, hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump’s type,” she hammered away.
Harris was assailing Trump when Biden called in from his isolation for COVID-19, cheering her and expressing his love for her—feelings that were mutually exchanged. “You’re an amazing team,” he said of Harris and the campaign staff.
Even more astounding, Harris had raked in more than $81 million in one day—money donated by thousands of Americans, unlike the huge amount in Trump’s war chest from several super-rich supporters. Along with a deluge of funds, Harris had also gathered a sufficient number of delegates, making her the presumptive nominee.
Almost immediately upon hearing of the seismic shift, Trump and his cohorts began screaming foul play, claiming that the change in candidates was illegal. A statement from the Democratic Party indicated that the change, although extraordinary, abided by the rules and procedures. “In this instance,” the statement explained, “the Democratic Party will determine its path forward and its delegates will vote to approve a ‘nominee at or before the Democratic National Convention this August.’”
As for the delegates, the Democrats are not bound to their candidates like the Republicans. At the convention, Democratic delegates are free to do what they want. That might be academic, since Harris has already gathered the number needed for the nomination. Even so, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said, “In the coming days, the Party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November. This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the Party. Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people.”
Among the burning issues facing Harris is the selection of a running mate, and several elected officials have been proposed. Some are suggesting that she choose someone from the battleground states to bolster a win in Michigan, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania to improve her chances of winning the vote in the Electoral College. It might be wiser to select someone who can provide clout in several states, and either of the Castro brothers—Julian or Joaquin—might be good to attract Hispanic voters. But that’s her call, and thus far, she’s been doing pretty good in consultation with her staff and Biden, who will be ever-present throughout the campaign. “He’s not going anywhere,” Harris said in Delaware on Monday.