US Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a blistering critique of former President Donald Trump while rallying Democratic support and pledging to lead her party to victory in November. Harris’s campaign launch comes on the heels of President Joe Biden’s unexpected exit from the race, a move that has dramatically reshaped the 2024 election landscape.
Speaking to campaign workers at her headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Harris expressed confidence in her ability to secure a win despite the “rollercoaster” of recent days. Biden, 81, who has been recovering from Covid, made a rare public appearance via phone call, endorsing Harris and affirming his decision to step down. He praised her as “the best” candidate, setting the stage for a historic campaign.
“We are going to win in November,” Harris declared, her speech met with enthusiastic applause from the assembled campaign workers. She emphasized her readiness to take on Trump, drawing from her extensive background as California’s chief prosecutor. “I took on perpetrators of all kinds,” Harris said. “Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type.”
Harris also vowed to address critical issues such as abortion, directly responding to Trump’s praise of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn federal protections for the procedure. Her stance on such hot-button topics is expected to galvanize support among voters concerned with reproductive rights and other progressive causes.
The support for Harris within the Democratic Party has been swift and substantial. Among her notable endorsements is former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who expressed “immense pride and limitless optimism” in backing Harris. Additionally, the powerful AFL-CIO union federation formally endorsed her campaign, signaling strong labor support.
Financial backing has also surged, with Harris’s campaign raising a record $81 million in the 24 hours following Biden’s announcement. This financial influx demonstrates significant grassroots and institutional support, bolstering her campaign’s momentum.
In a symbolic gesture, Harris hosted a ceremony for college athletes at the White House on Monday, underscoring her active engagement while Biden remains in isolation at his Delaware beach house. The president’s official schedule indicates he will return to the White House on Tuesday, as his doctor reported that Biden’s Covid symptoms have nearly resolved.
Biden’s withdrawal has not only reshaped the Democratic field but also posed new challenges for the Republican campaign. Trump, now 78 and the oldest presidential nominee in history, must pivot from a strategy focused on Biden’s age and health. Harris’s candidacy flips the age issue and pits Trump against a woman with a formidable prosecutorial background.
Trump has responded with characteristic vitriol, attacking both Biden and Harris on social media. His running mate, J.D. Vance, echoed these sentiments at a rally in Ohio, accusing elite Democrats of orchestrating Biden’s exit. “That is not how it works. That is a threat to democracy,” Vance proclaimed, attempting to cast doubt on the Democratic transition.
As Harris forges ahead, her campaign aims to unify a previously demoralized party and energize voters with the promise of making history. With the support of influential Democrats and a robust fundraising effort, Harris is poised to lead a compelling race, potentially becoming the first female president in US history.
