In a seismic shift in the American political landscape, Democrats are swiftly coalescing around Vice President Kamala Harris as their presumptive presidential nominee following President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the 2024 race. Democrats rally behind Harris as Biden exits race, with many party leaders and influential figures quickly endorsing her candidacy to face off against Republican nominee Donald Trump in the upcoming November election.
As Democrats rally behind Harris as Biden exits race, the party faces the challenge of uniting its various factions and addressing lingering doubts about Harris’s ability to defeat Trump. This rapid transition of support is crucial, given that there are just over 100 days left before the general election. The sudden change in the Democratic Party’s trajectory was set in motion when President Biden, 81, announced his decision to step down from the race. In a separate statement following his withdrawal letter, Biden himself endorsed Harris, saying, “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.” He urged Democrats to “come together and beat Trump,” emphasizing the need for party unity in the face of a formidable opponent.
Biden’s endorsement was swiftly followed by a wave of support from key Democratic figures and organizations. The Congressional Black Caucus, a powerful group within the party, threw its weight behind Harris. Several prominent donors, lawmakers, and super PACs, including Priorities USA and Unite the Country, also quickly aligned themselves with the Vice President. As the day progressed, the list of Democratic lawmakers endorsing Harris grew significantly. Notable endorsements came from California Governor Gavin Newsom, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, U.S. Senator Patty Murray of Washington state, U.S. Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington.
The support for Harris extended beyond current officeholders. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also endorsed Harris in a joint statement, adding significant weight to her candidacy given their influence within the party.
Dmitri Mehlhorn, an adviser to Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn founder and a major Democratic donor, expressed enthusiasm for Harris’s candidacy. He described her as “the American dream personified,” highlighting her background as the daughter of immigrants and her rise from Oakland, California, to become the state’s top prosecutor. Mehlhorn’s statement, “With Scranton Joe stepping back, I cannot wait to help elect President Harris,” encapsulates the excitement among some party donors.
In a significant show of party-wide support, all 50 Democratic party state chairs have indicated they will back Harris as the party’s new presidential nominee, according to multiple sources reported by Reuters. Additionally, the Democratic delegations to the nominating convention from Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina, and North Carolina have publicly declared their support for Harris.
However, despite this groundswell of support, some influential party members have remained noticeably quiet about endorsing Harris or any other potential candidate. Former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, known for her political acumen and influence within the party, has yet to make a public statement supporting Harris’s candidacy.
Similarly, former President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as vice president for eight years, thanked Biden for his patriotism but did not immediately throw his support behind Harris. Obama’s statement acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the situation, saying, “We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead.” He expressed confidence in the party’s leadership to create a process that would result in an outstanding nominee but stopped short of endorsing Harris outright.
A source familiar with Obama’s thinking suggested that, just as he did in 2020 once Biden secured the Democratic nomination, the former president believes he will be uniquely positioned to help unite the party once it has a nominee. This approach indicates a desire to maintain neutrality during what could be a delicate transition period for the party.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, while praising Biden’s decision to step aside, also remained silent on who should be the Democrats’ nominee. This silence from key party figures suggests a degree of caution and perhaps a desire to ensure that the party’s process for selecting its nominee is seen as fair and inclusive. The rapid transition of support to Harris is not without its critics and skeptics within the party. There are lingering doubts about her ability to defeat Trump in the general election. Some Democrats have suggested that the party should hold a mini-primary before the August convention to ensure that the strongest possible candidate emerges.
US Senator Peter Welch, who was the first Democratic senator to call on Biden to drop his reelection bid, advocated for an open nomination process. He argued that “whoever our nominee is, including Kamala, has the strength of having a process that shows the consensus position of the party.” Welch emphasized the importance of determining who can best carry on Biden’s legacy while defeating Trump. The possibility of alternative candidates or running mates is also being discussed within party circles. One Democratic donor expressed support for a ticket with Harris as the presidential candidate and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her vice president, seeing this as a strategy to gain votes in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania. However, it remains unknown whom Harris would choose as her running mate if she becomes the nominee.
The rapid shift in the Democratic landscape has also affected some cross-party initiatives. A group that had been appealing to supporters of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley under the name “Haley Voters for Biden” quickly rebranded itself as “Haley Voters for Harris,” indicating a swift pivot to align with the new presumptive nominee.
As the Democratic Party navigates this unexpected transition, several key challenges and questions emerge:
1. Party Unity: Can the Democrats quickly unite behind Harris, or will lingering doubts and desire for an open process create divisions?
2. Electability: How will Harris address concerns about her ability to defeat Trump in the general election?
3. Policy Continuity: To what extent will Harris maintain Biden’s policy positions, and where might she diverge?
4. Vice Presidential Pick: Whom will Harris choose as her running mate, and how will this choice impact the ticket’s appeal?
5. Campaign Strategy: How will the Harris campaign differentiate itself from Biden’s while maintaining continuity on key issues?
6. Fundraising and Resources: Can Harris quickly mobilize the financial and organizational resources needed for a presidential campaign with limited time before the election?
7. Messaging: How will Harris frame her candidacy to appeal both to the Democratic base and to swing voters?
As the Democratic Party rallies behind Kamala Harris in the wake of Biden’s exit, the coming weeks will be critical in shaping the narrative and strategy for the 2024 presidential election. The party’s ability to present a united front and effectively communicate Harris’s vision for the country will be crucial in what promises to be a highly contentious and closely watched election campaign.
