KAMALA Harris has remained silent on her presidential bid as she addressed the public for the first time since Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign and endorsed her.
Harris accepted Biden‘s endorsement hours after the president shockingly ended his reelection bid following mounting pressure from Democrats and donors who called on him to step down.
Since Biden’s stunning announcement, a growing number of Democrats who it was believed were going to challenge Harris for the nomination have now backed her presidential bid.
Governors Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer, whose names were rumored to be on the list of potential presidential candidates, have endorsed Harris’ campaign.
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who was reportedly considering a possible reunion with Democrats for the open nomination, also opted out.
‘SHE IS NOT BETTER THAN HIM’
Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump ripped Biden and said while he won’t face the president on the ballot, he doesn’t think Harris is much of a challenge.
“I think she is not better than him,” Trump told CBS News.
“She could be far less competent, which is hard to believe. The policies, whether it’s him or her, wouldn’t be any different.
“She was in charge of the border. She was the border czar. She was the worst ever. The worst ever. We had the worst border ever, so that wouldn’t matter.”
Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens told NewsNation he and presidential candidate Harris have not spoken since July 2023.
The influx of immigrants crossing from Mexico into the United States has been a pressing issue for the Biden administration since 2021.
In a pre-taped interview with Fox News’ Jesse Waters, Trump claimed Harris was campaigning for Biden to step down.
“She’s out there trying to get him to quit so she can run for president. She’s being laughed at all over the world,” Trump said, adding that he thought Harris was “incompetent.”
There is no evidence to suggest Harris wanted Biden to end his reelection campaign.
What happens next as Joe Biden drops out of the 2024 race?
President Biden has finally heeded calls to drop his bid for re-election, throwing the 2024 election into chaos. He has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris but naming a new Democratic nominee won't be a simple process. Here's what's next after Biden's stunning announcement.
Biden secured nearly 4,000 delegates by winning state caucuses and primaries earlier this year. He was set to officially be named the Democratic nominee at a virtual vote ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which begins on August 19.
Democratic party rules don’t allow Biden to simply pass his 3,896 delegates to Harris or another candidate.
Harris will now have to convince those nearly 4,000 delegates and 700 superdelegates to support her and name her nominee.
However, delegates are free agents who can choose to support whichever candidate they want – likely without input from voters at this stage since primaries and caucuses were already held.
All eyes are now on the previously planned virtual vote – where the Democratic party could choose a nominee before the DNC begins.
Biden’s endorsement of Harris will likely sway delegates and no one has publicly challenged her as a candidate – but delegates are not required to back her. Even if the virtual vote isn’t held, the party could still choose Harris or another candidate before the convention.
If Democrats don’t name their nominee before the DNC, it’ll be the first open and contested convention since 1968.
But, it’s been revealed that Biden stumbled over possibly handing the baton to Harris as he and his senior advisers feared she would not be a strong candidate to challenge Trump, according to Axios.
Questions were raised about Harris’ suitability to take on the task because of her infamous unpopularity with staff.
Ex-aides told Axios that Harris experienced high staff turnover at the start of her VP role, which was due in part to the way the tough former prosecutor treated her employees.
Harris’ staff resigned in droves at the beginning of her vice presidency, with ex-aides slamming her “soul-destroying” management style, reported the New York Post in 2022.
She has also raised questions after showing little progress on her portfolios of protecting voting rights and stemming migration from Central America.
Some of her former aides – speaking anonymously – told Axios that Harris was unpopular for “prosecuting the staff.”
Of the 47 Harris staffers listed back in 2021, just five have remained loyal and still worked for her as of this spring, said Axios, citing Senate disclosures.
KAMALA STAYS SILENT ON PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
As Harris, 59, remained silent on her presidential campaign during a White House event on Monday, Democrats have slowly begun to rally behind her.
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was the latest Democrat to endorse Harris, “Today, it is with immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future that I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States.
“My enthusiastic support for Kamla Harris for President is official, personal and political.”
Harris and several White House officials welcomed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship teams from the 2023-24 season in a ceremony on the South Lawn.
The vice president began her speech by reflecting on Biden’s accomplishments as president before shifting back to the student-athletes in attendance.
“Our president, Joe Biden, wanted to be here today. He is feeling much better and recovering fast, and he looks forward to getting back on the road,” Harris said of the president, who is recovering from a Covid-19 diagnosis.
“And I want to say a few words about our president. Joe Biden’s legacy of accomplishments over the past three years is unmatched in modern history.
“In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who have served two terms in office.
“And I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We worked together as attorneys general in our states, and back then, Beau would often tell me stories about his dad.
“He would talk about the kind of father and the kind of man that Joe Biden is.”
He’s feeling much better and recovering fast.”
Kamala Harris, VP, White House
“The qualities that Beau revered in his father are the same qualities that I have seen every day in our president.
“His honesty, his integrity, his commitment to his faith and his family, his big heart, and his deep love of our country.”
“And I am first-hand witness that every day our president… fights for the American people and we are deeply, deeply grateful for his service to our nation,” Harris added, to applause.
Harris then welcomed them all to the White House to honor the achievements “of these great athletes, every one of them a national champion… the best of the best.”
Harris also heaped praise on the winners ahead of the Paris Olympics, where some are likely to compete.
She told the athletes they knew how to “count on teammates.”
“You remind us what can be achieved with hard work and ambition,” Harris added while paying tribute to those who have supported the champs, including families and coaches.
Full list of Democrats who have endorsed Kamala Harris
- President Joe Biden
- Gov. Roy Cooper, North Carolina
- Gov. Gavin Newsom, California
- Gov. John Carney, Delaware
- Gov. Josh Green, Hawaii
- Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York
- Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington
- Gov. Janet Mills, Maine
- Gov. Phil Murphy, New Jersey
- Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado
- Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut
- Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia
- Sen. Raphael Warnock, Georgia
- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin
- Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Sen. Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Sen. Laphonza Butler, California
- Sen. Maria Cantwell, Washington
- Sen. Ben Cardin, Maryland
- Sen. Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
- Sen. Chris Coons, Delaware
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada
- Sen. Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
- Sen. John Hickenlooper, Colorado
- Sen. Mazie Hirono, Hawaii
- Sen. Tim Kaine, Virginia
- Sen. Mark Kelly, Arizona
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, New Mexico
- Sen. Ed Markey, Massachusetts
- Sen. Patty Murray, Washington
- Sen. Jon Ossoff, Georgia
- Sen. Alex Padilla, California
- Sen. Gary Peters, Michigan
- Sen. Jacky Rosen, Nevada
- Sen. Brian Schatz, Hawaii
- Sen. Tina Smith, Minnesota
- Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Michigan
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts
- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
- Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon
- Rep. Steny Hoyer, Maryland
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York
- Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey
- Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Michigan
- Rep. Colin Allred, Texas
- Rep. Gabe Amo, Rhode Island
- Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts
- Rep. Becca Balint, Vermont
- Rep. Nanette Barragan, California
- Rep. Joyce Beatty, Ohio
- Rep. Ami Bera, California
- Rep. Don Beyer, Virginia
- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon
- Rep. Jamaal Bowman, New York
- Rep. Brendan Boyle, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Shontel Brown, Ohio
- Rep. Julia Brownley, California
- Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Illinois
- Rep. Cori Bush, Missouri
- Rep. Yadira Caraveo, Colorado
- Rep. Salud Carbajal, California
- Rep. Andre Carson, Indiana
- Rep. Troy Carter, Louisiana
- Rep. Greg Casar, Texas
- Rep. Sean Casten, Illinois
- Rep. Kathy Castor, Florida
- Rep. Joaquin Castro, Texas
- Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Florida
- Rep. Judy Chu, California
- Rep. Yvette Clarke, New York
- Rep. Jim Clyburn, South Carolina
- Rep. Steve Cohen, Tennessee
- Rep. Gerry Connolly, Virginia
- Rep. Joe Courtney, Connecticut
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Texas
- Rep. Jason Crow, Colorado
- Rep. Danny Davis, Illinois
- Rep. Madeleine Dean, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Diana DeGette, Colorado
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut
- Rep. Debbie Dingell, Michigan
- Rep. Veronica Escobar, Texas
- Rep. Dwight Evans, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Teresa Fernandez, New Mexico
- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Texas
- Rep. Bill Foster, Illinois
- Rep. Lois Frankel, Florida
- Rep. Maxwell Frost, Florida
- Rep. Ruben Gallego, Arizona
- Rep. John Garamendi, California
- Rep. Mike Garcia, California
- Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Texas
- Rep. Jesus Garcia, Illinois
- Rep. Daniel Goldman, New York
- Rep. Jimmy Gomez, California
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey
- Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Arizona
- Rep. Jahana Hayes, Connecticut
- Rep. Steven Horsford, Nevada
- Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Val Hoyle, Oregon
- Rep. Jared Huffman, California
- Rep. Glenn Ivey, Maryland
- Rep. Jeff Jackson, North Carolina
- Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Illinois
- Rep. Sara Jacobs, California
- Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Washington
- Rep. Hank Johnson, Georgia
- Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, California
- Rep. Bill Keating, Massachusetts
- Rep. Robin Kelly, Illinois
- Rep. Ro Khanna, California
- Rep. Dan Kildee, Michigan
- Rep. Andy Kim, New Jersey
- Rep. Greg Landsman, Ohio
- Rep. Rick Larsen, Washington
- Rep. Barbara Lee, California
- Rep. Summer Lee, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Susie Lee, Nevada
- Rep. Mike Levin, California
- Rep. Ted Lieu, California
- Rep. Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island
- Rep. Kathy Manning, North Carolina
- Rep. Lucy McBath, Georgia
- Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Virginia
- Rep. Betty McCollum, Minnesota
- Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky
- Rep. Jim McGovern, Massachusetts
- Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, New Hampshire
- Rep. Gregory Meeks, New York
- Rep. Rob Menendez, New Jersey
- Rep. Grace Meng, New York
- Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Maryland
- Rep. Gwen Moore, Wisconsin
- Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Florida
- Rep. Seth Moulton, Massachusetts
- Rep. Kevin Mullin, California
- Rep. Jerry Nadler, New York
- Rep. Joe Neguse, Colorado
- Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota
- Rep. Frank Pallone, New Jersey
- Rep. Chris Pappas, New Hampshire
- Rep. Bill Pascrell, New Jersey
- Rep. Brittany Pettersen, Colorado
- Rep. Mark Pocan, Wisconsin
- Rep. Katie Porter, California
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts
- Rep. Mike Quigley, Illinois
- Rep. Delia Ramirez, Illinois
- Rep. Jamie Raskin, Maryland
- Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware
- Rep. Deborah Ross, North Carolina
- Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger, Maryland
- Rep. Andrea Salinas, Oregon
- Rep. Linda Sanchez, California
- Rep. John Sarbanes, Maryland
- Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
- Rep. Adam Schiff, California
- Rep. Brad Schneider, Illinois
- Rep. Hillary Scholten, Michigan
- Rep. Bobby Scott, Virginia
- Rep. Terri Sewell, Alabama
- Rep. Brad Sherman, California
- Rep. Adam Smith, Washington
- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Virginia
- Rep. Melanie Stansbury, New Mexico
- Rep. Greg Stanton, Arizona
- Rep. Haley Stevens, Michigan
- Rep. Marilyn Strickland, Washington
- Rep. Eric Swalwell, California
- Rep. Emilia Sykes, Ohio
- Rep. Mark Takano, California
- Rep. Shri Thanedar, Michigan
- Rep. Terry Thompson, Missouri
- Rep. Dina Titus, Nevada
- Rep. Jill Tokuda, Hawaii
- Rep. Paul Tonko, New York
- Rep. Norma Torres, California
- Rep. Ritchie Torres, New York
- Rep. Lori Trahan, Massachusetts
- Rep. David Trone, Maryland
- Rep. Lauren Underwood, Illinois
- Rep. Gabe Vasquez, New Mexico
- Rep. Marc Veasey, Texas
- Rep. Nydia Velazquez, New York
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida
- Rep. Maxine Waters, California
- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey
- Rep. Jennifer Wexton, Virginia
- Rep. Susan Wild, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Nikema Williams, Georgia
- Rep. Frederica Wilson, Florida