Vice President Kamala Harris has launched her 2024 presidential campaign, aiming to make history as the first woman President of the United States if she wins. Her bid for the presidency comes after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, citing concerns about his age and health.
Harris’ campaign team has been actively working to gather support from fellow Democrats, with numerous calls made on her behalf to delegates ahead of the Democratic Party convention next month. These efforts are focused on ensuring her nomination for the November 5 election against Republican Donald Trump.
Sources indicate that the calls began almost immediately after Biden, the 81-year-old incumbent, stepped down. Democratic State party chairs have also expressed their support for Harris, with several notable figures, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, endorsing her.
As a 59-year-old Black and Asian-American woman, Harris offers a fresh dynamic compared to Trump, who is 78, highlighting a significant generational and cultural contrast. The US has never elected a woman president in its 248-year history.
Following Biden’s endorsement, Harris addressed the public at a White House event celebrating NCAA 2023-24 college champions. Biden, the oldest president in US history, will remain in office until January 20, 2025, but has backed Harris to succeed him.
Biden’s decision to withdraw marks the first time a sitting president has voluntarily given up his party’s nomination for re-election since President Lyndon B Johnson during the Vietnam War in 1968. This leaves Harris with less than four months to campaign effectively.
While prominent Democrats, including potential rivals like California Governor Gavin Newsom, have rallied behind Harris, some notable figures such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama have yet to announce their endorsements.
Despite the early support for Harris, there are still discussions about a potential contested convention when Democrats meet in Chicago from August 19-22. Potential challengers like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear have not publicly commented on Harris’s candidacy.
With the political landscape continually shifting, the Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison has indicated that the party will soon outline the next steps in the nomination process. Harris, previously an unsuccessful candidate for the 2020 Democratic nomination, is expected to build on Biden’s foreign policy positions but may adopt a firmer stance on issues like Israel and the Gaza conflict.
As the race progresses, Harris’ candidacy remains a significant point of discussion, with some Democrats concerned about her potential challenges amid historical racial and gender biases. Polling shows a tight race, with Harris and Trump neck-and-neck, highlighting the competitive nature of the upcoming election.
