Former president Barack Obama has stopped short of endorsing Kamala Harris to replace Joe Biden as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate.
Instead of backing the vice president, he said in a statement: “I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”
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After he stepped aside, Mr Biden backed Ms Harris to replace him, saying: “I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”
In response, Ms Harris said: “I am honoured to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.”
Soon after, former President Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton joined Mr Biden in throwing their support behind her.
The pair thanked Mr Biden for his “extraordinary” career of service in a post on X, before saying they were “honoured” to endorse Ms Harris.
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They said this was the best way to stop Donald Trump from re-entering the White House for a second term as president.
“We’ve lived through many ups and downs, but nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term,” their statement read.
“Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect.”
Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor who was seen as a potential presidential candidate, endorsed Ms Harris on Sunday evening.
“The best path forward for the Democratic Party is to quickly unite behind Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency,” he said in a statement on X.
Long-term friend of Ms Harris, senator Chris Coons, is also backing the vice president and the Biden for President campaign has officially changed its name to “Harris for President” with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
A notification from the campaign said Ms Harris will be issuing new FEC filings soon.
“This letter is to inform you that Vice President Harris is no longer a candidate in the 2024 election for Vice President. Vice President Harris is now a candidate for United States President in the 2024 election,” the notice to the FEC said.
Adam Schiff, the Californian Democrat running for Senate, endorsed Ms Harris, saying she has the “judgment, experience, leadership, and tenacity to take on and defeat Donald Trump”.
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Pramila Jayapal, congresswoman for Washington’s 7th district, was the first Democrat aside from the president to publicly back the current vice president to run against Mr Trump in November’s election.
The Congressional Black Caucus, a group of black Democrats, said they joined Mr Biden in “fully supporting” Harris to be the Democratic presidential nominee.
Governor Jared Polis posted three emojis on X that could be a sign he is backing Ms Harris: a coconut, a palm tree and an American flag.
The emojis are a reference to a phrase Ms Harris has repeated often: “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”
Other Democrats, including James Clyburn, a respected former leader in the party, Jasmine Crockett, Jamie Raskin, Eric Swalwell, Debbie Dingell and Mazie Hirono have also already backed Ms Harris.
Source Agencies
