Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: US Vice- President Kamala Harris launched a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination following Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 race, seizing the endorsement of her boss to quickly become the party’s frontrunner.
“I am honoured to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said in a statement on July 21. “I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump.”
Biden, the oldest US president in history at 81, had earlier on July 21 said that he would not seek reelection, reversing his decision after weeks of mounting pressure from fellow Democrats to end his bid. A calamitous debate performance in June sparked a political nightmare for Democrats who feared Biden would not be able to keep Trump from returning to the White House.
Biden endorsed Harris, 59, to be the Democratic nominee, saying she had his “full support.” The president and Harris spoke multiple times on July 21 before he announced his decision, according to a person familiar with the discussions.
California Senator Laphonza Butler, a close Harris ally who advised her 2020 presidential campaign, said the vice president is making calls to members of Congress, governors, delegates and organisational leaders. Butler said she spoke with Harris, but declined to offer details of the conversation.
