Democratic candidate and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (59 years old) made her first appearance today since Joe Biden withdrew from the race, delivering a speech in the White House lawn. In her speech, she affirmed that "Biden's legacy and accomplishments are unmatched in modern history," adding that he "fights for the American people." She also confirmed that the American president, who is infected with COVID-19, "is recovering and will return to his duties."
Harris wasted no time today in her bid to win the Democratic nomination for president, a day after Biden (81 years old) decided not to run again amid increasing opposition from his party. Her campaign officials and allies made hundreds of calls to urge participants in next month's Democratic National Convention to support her candidacy for the presidential election on November 5 against Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Biden's withdrawal has sent shockwaves through the presidential nomination race, which has witnessed an assassination attempt on former President Trump by an armed individual during a campaign rally in the past ten days, before announcing Senator J.D. Vance’s candidacy for the vice presidency. Harris stated in a statement: "My goal is to win this nomination and to succeed... I will do everything I can to unite the Democratic Party and unite our nation and defeat Donald Trump."
Bringing New Energy to the Race
Harris, an Asian American woman, is set to bring entirely new energy to the race against Trump (78 years old) amid generational and cultural differences. Biden, the oldest sitting president in U.S. history, stated that he would continue to serve until the end of his term on January 20, 2025, and endorsed Harris for the presidency in his place.
Biden's disastrous performance in the debate with Trump on June 27 led many Democrats to call for his withdrawal, and senior Republican Party members began demanding his resignation, claiming that if he is not fit to run, he is not fit to govern. Biden's withdrawal leaves his replacement with less than four months to launch a campaign. Harris immediately received support from prominent Democrats, including potential rivals like California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Trump: "They Stole the Race from Biden"
Trump questioned the validity of the Democrats' change of candidates, with his claims that his loss to Biden in 2020 was due to fraud serving as inspiration for the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump posted on his platform "Truth Social": "They stole the race from Biden after he won it in the primaries."
Despite early support for Harris, discussions about holding an open convention when Democrats meet in Chicago from August 19 to 22 continue. Neither former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi nor former President Barack Obama has publicly endorsed Harris, although they praised Biden. Potential rivals, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, also did not mention the Vice President in their statements.
As Democrats enter uncharted territory, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jamie Harrison said the party will soon announce the next steps in the nomination process.
A Strong Abortion Rights Advocate
Harris, a former California Attorney General and former U.S. Senator, failed to secure the Democratic Party's nomination for the presidential election in 2020. Biden won the nomination and chose Harris as his running mate, continuing his path to the White House then and defeating Trump.
Harris is a strong advocate for abortion rights, an issue that resonates with young voters and more liberal Democrats.
Foreign Policy
Harris is expected to largely maintain Biden's approach to foreign policy on issues such as China, Iran, and Ukraine, but she may adopt a tougher tone with Israel regarding the Gaza war if she secures the Democratic nomination and wins in the November elections. Supporters of her candidacy claim that she will attract votes from specific voter demographics, increase support among Black voters, and showcase strong debate skills defending the political agenda against former President Trump.
However, some Democrats have expressed concerns regarding Harris's candidacy, partly due to the long history of racial and gender discrimination in the U.S., which has never elected a woman as president in its nearly 250-year history.
Statistical evidence shows that Harris's polling performance is not better than Biden's against Trump.
"A Bridge to the Next Generation"
During the 2020 campaign, Biden described himself as "a bridge to the next generation." Some interpreted his remarks as an indication that he would serve only one term, meaning he would be a transitional figure who defeated Trump and returned the Democratic Party to power.
However, Biden decided to run for a second term believing he can defeat Trump once again. His campaign has already faced difficulties and significant issues arose after his performance in the debate raised genuine concerns about his ability to win the election or serve as president for four more years.
