US Vice President Kamala Harris praised President Joe Biden‘s “selfless and patriotic” decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, and vowed to win the Democratic nomination and defeat Donald Trump.
“With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else,” Harris said in a statement.”I am honored to have the president’s endorsement, and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump.”
Harris says she is running for President – Full text
“On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office.
It is a profound honor to serve as his Vice President, and I am deeply grateful to the President, Dr. Biden, and the entire Biden family. I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from our days working together as Attorneys General of our home states. As we worked together, Beau would tell me stories about his Dad. The kind of father-and the kind of man-he was. And the qualities Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values, I have seen every single day in Joe’s leadership as President: His honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love of our country and the American people.
With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.
I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.
We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”
Challenges ahead
Harris, who could become the first Black woman to head a major party presidential ticket, faces significant challenges ahead. Biden’s abrupt decision to step aside came amid concerns about his candidacy’s viability, following a problematic debate performance against Republican rival Donald Trump.
Biden’s endorsement sets Harris on a path to potentially become the first woman and second Black person to hold the presidency. She had previously joined Biden’s ticket after a brief and rocky bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination. Her nomination, however, is not guaranteed as the party remains divided over whether she should ascend directly or face a “mini primary.”
A former prosecutor and US senator from California, Harris will need to address skepticism about her ability to win the presidency. Her first major test will come at the Democratic convention in Chicago in August. Despite being viewed as the frontrunner, she must overcome potential challengers, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Who is Kamala Harris?
Harris, born October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, comes from a background of civil rights activism. Her parents’ divorce led her mother to raise her and her younger sister. Harris attended Howard University and later law school in the San Francisco Bay Area, choosing a career in prosecution despite her family’s activist leanings. Her political career began with a successful run for San Francisco district attorney, followed by a high-profile role as California’s attorney general.
Her association with Barack Obama began with her campaigning for him in Iowa and continued when he endorsed her in her 2010 race for attorney general. Harris’ record, including her stances on the death penalty and same-sex marriage, has faced scrutiny, particularly during her 2019 presidential bid, which ended before the Iowa caucuses.
Harris was selected as Biden’s running mate in 2020, a decision that Biden remarked was meaningful for young Black and brown girls. As vice president, she has focused on migration issues and reproductive rights, and has been a prominent advocate for her party’s coalition of women, young people, and voters of color.
In reflecting on her role, Harris often cites a line from her mother: “Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you’re not the last.”
“With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else,” Harris said in a statement.”I am honored to have the president’s endorsement, and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump.”
Harris says she is running for President – Full text
“On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office.
It is a profound honor to serve as his Vice President, and I am deeply grateful to the President, Dr. Biden, and the entire Biden family. I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from our days working together as Attorneys General of our home states. As we worked together, Beau would tell me stories about his Dad. The kind of father-and the kind of man-he was. And the qualities Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values, I have seen every single day in Joe’s leadership as President: His honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love of our country and the American people.
With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.
I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.
We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”
Challenges ahead
Harris, who could become the first Black woman to head a major party presidential ticket, faces significant challenges ahead. Biden’s abrupt decision to step aside came amid concerns about his candidacy’s viability, following a problematic debate performance against Republican rival Donald Trump.
Biden’s endorsement sets Harris on a path to potentially become the first woman and second Black person to hold the presidency. She had previously joined Biden’s ticket after a brief and rocky bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination. Her nomination, however, is not guaranteed as the party remains divided over whether she should ascend directly or face a “mini primary.”
A former prosecutor and US senator from California, Harris will need to address skepticism about her ability to win the presidency. Her first major test will come at the Democratic convention in Chicago in August. Despite being viewed as the frontrunner, she must overcome potential challengers, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Who is Kamala Harris?
Harris, born October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, comes from a background of civil rights activism. Her parents’ divorce led her mother to raise her and her younger sister. Harris attended Howard University and later law school in the San Francisco Bay Area, choosing a career in prosecution despite her family’s activist leanings. Her political career began with a successful run for San Francisco district attorney, followed by a high-profile role as California’s attorney general.
Her association with Barack Obama began with her campaigning for him in Iowa and continued when he endorsed her in her 2010 race for attorney general. Harris’ record, including her stances on the death penalty and same-sex marriage, has faced scrutiny, particularly during her 2019 presidential bid, which ended before the Iowa caucuses.
Harris was selected as Biden’s running mate in 2020, a decision that Biden remarked was meaningful for young Black and brown girls. As vice president, she has focused on migration issues and reproductive rights, and has been a prominent advocate for her party’s coalition of women, young people, and voters of color.
In reflecting on her role, Harris often cites a line from her mother: “Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you’re not the last.”
Source Agencies
