Vice President Kamala Harris has officially launched her presidential campaign following President Joe Biden's unexpected withdrawal from the race, a decision he announced after a weekend of isolation due to COVID-19. In a letter shared on social media, Biden expressed that stepping down was in the best interest of both the Democratic Party and the country, and he subsequently endorsed Harris as his successor.
Harris was met with enthusiastic support upon her arrival at her campaign office in Wilmington, Delaware, where she prepared for her first event as a candidate. In a remarkable show of financial backing, her campaign raised $81 million within the first 24 hours, marking the highest single-day fundraising total for any candidate in history.
Prominent Democrats, including former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, quickly rallied behind Harris, with several governors also endorsing her candidacy. Kentucky Governor Andy Bashir and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper expressed their support, while Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer confirmed her endorsement but declined any offer for the vice presidency.
On the Republican side, reactions were mixed. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Biden's exit, claiming it undermined the votes of millions of Americans, while former President Donald Trump attacked Harris, questioning her leadership capabilities.
As Harris prepares for her next campaign stop in Milwaukee, Democrats are energized and looking to shift the narrative, highlighting Trump's age as he becomes the oldest presidential nominee in history. The political landscape is rapidly evolving, and with Biden's departure, the focus now shifts to Harris as she seeks to unite the party and appeal to voters ahead of the upcoming election.