An increasing number of senior Democrats – including Gavin Newsom and Pete Buttigieg – have backed Kamala Harris to be the party’s presidential candidate.
Also, American celebrities have joined the calls for Vice President Kamala Harris to win the Democratic Party’s Presidential ticket for the November election in the United States.
These are coming hours after US President Joe Biden withdrew from the race on Sunday, saying it’s “in the best interest of my party and the country”
The Daily Crucible reports that Biden, 81, had faced increasing calls to step aside since a faltering debate performance against Donald Trump last month.
He has endorsed Harris, who says she intends to “earn and win” the nomination and do “everything in my power” to defeat Trump
According to the BBC, First Lady Jill Biden too is supportive of her husband “whatever road he chose” and remains his “biggest believer.”
BBC reports that in less than 12 hours since Joe Biden withdrew from the US election race, and then endorsed his Vice-President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democratic nominee for president, a growing number of Democrats – including people like Gavin Newsom and Pete Buttigieg, who had themselves been touted as nominees – have rallied around Harris.
Although there is nothing’s official yet, all eyes remain on the Democratic Party to see what comes next.
Expectedly, thousands of black women across America joined a Zoom call on Sunday night to throw their support behind Kamala Harris.
Longtime Democratic operatives, and senior Harris staffers were also on the call – according to reports – which was hosted by the group Win With Black Women.
Harris’s deputy chief of staff spoke, telling the group that Harris would go after Trump’s age and criminal convictions if she secured the nomination.
“Her role as a prosecutor makes her the ultimate contrast to Trump, the convicted felon. She can make the issue of age and fitness a liability for Trump,” Erin Wilson said, according to the New York Times.
Who could Harris name as VP?
Kamala Harris has not been confirmed as the Democrats’ presidential nominee. But the party is falling in behind her – and thoughts are now turning to who she may pick as a running mate.
As a reminder, the running mate would become vice-president, should Harris win November’s election.
Speaking to CNN, Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina suggested three governors could be in the running – Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
Beshear and Cooper are two Democrats who have both held their own in states that voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020.
And Josh Shapiro – who has a legal background similar to Harris – has been framed as a rising star in the party, due to his long history of winning elections in Pennsylvania, which Democrats see as a must win state in November.
Celebrities queue behind Harris
In the hours that have followed Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the US election race, a number of celebrities have publicly expressed their support for Vice-President Kamala Harris.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis described Harris as “trusted and tested” – adding that she’s a “fierce advocate for women’s rights and people of colour and her message is one of hope and unity for America at her time of great national divide”
Singer Katy Perry posted a video message on Instagram, where she sings “it’s a woman’s world, and you’re lucky to be living in it”
Reacting to President Biden’s decision to drop out, talk show host and comedian Jon Stewart published one-word post on X. “Legend”
And Oscar-winning actress and singer Barbra Streisand wrote on X: “Joe Biden will go down in history as a man who accomplished significant achievements in his four-year term. “We should be grateful for his upholding of our democracy”
Source: BBC
