There’s an immediate front-runner in the race to replace Joe Biden atop the Democratic ticket. But she hasn’t locked it up yet.
In the wake of Biden’s bombshell withdrawal Sunday from the presidential race, he gave a powerful boost to Vice-President Kamala Harris by endorsing her. But there was conspicuous silence from other top Democrats
Harris’s response appeared to acknowledge it might not be a coronation.
“My intention is to earn and win this nomination,” she said in a statement, saying she was honoured to have Biden’s endorsement.
She received numerous endorsements from congressional Democrats, including the party’s Black and Hispanic caucuses and some leading progressives like Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
She is also expected to gain another formidable advantage: use of the existing Biden campaign operation, which would further complicate any rival challenge.
But other big names in the party were notably circumspect on Sunday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and former U.S. president Barack Obama all put out statements on Sunday recognizing Biden’s service to the country — but none mentioned Harris or endorsed her.
It opens up the possibility that she may have challengers at the upcoming Democratic National Convention, taking place Aug. 19-22.
“We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead,” Obama said in a statement. “But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”
U.S. President Joe Biden has thrown his support behind Vice-President Kamala Harris after ending his re-election campaign on Sunday. Political science professor Chris Galdieri reacts to Biden’s backing of Harris, while Republican strategist Chip Felkel looks at how she stacks up against Trump.
Biden’s decision was a historic development after a head-spinning week that included the aftermath of an assassination attempt against his Republican rival Donald Trump. And it scrambles assumptions about the campaign.
Virtually every poll shows the Republicans leading against Biden, though those same surveys say a hypothetical race involving Harris is much closer.
Republicans have also built their campaign around Biden’s weakness; they will now be thrust into a messaging rewrite.
“I think her candidacy will get a lot of people…
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