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Harris secures Nancy Pelosi's backing for White House run
"Politically make no mistake: Kamala Harris as a woman in politics is brilliantly astute - and I have full confidence that she will lead us to victory in November," Pelosi said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris during the State of the Union address by U.S. President Joe Biden at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S, March 1, 2022. / Al Drago/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris won the support of one of America's longest-serving and best-known Democrats on July 22, Nancy Pelosi, in her bid to succeed President Joe Biden, who on July 21 ended his reelection bid.
Pelosi, who remains influential since stepping down as House speaker in 2022, played a leading role in persuading Biden, 81, to end his campaign amid concerns over his acuity and ability to beat Republican Donald Trump or to serve another four years.
"With love and gratitude, I salute President Biden for always believing in the possibilities of America and giving people the opportunity to reach their fulfillment," Pelosi, 84, said in a statement. "We must unify and charge forward to resoundingly defeat Donald Trump and enthusiastically elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States."
Virtually all of the prominent Democrats who had been seen as potential challengers to Harris have lined up behind her, including Governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Gavin Newsom of California and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.
Biden's departure was the latest shock to a White House race that included the near-assassination of former President Trump by a gunman during a campaign stop and the nomination of Trump's fellow hardliner, U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, as his running mate.
Harris, 59, lauded Biden for his service to the country on July 22 in her first public appearance since he abruptly abandoned his reelection bid and endorsed her as his successor.
"Joe Biden's legacy over the last three years is unmatched in modern history," Harris said at a White House event to honor college athletes. "Every day, our president, Joe Biden, fights for the American people and we are deeply, deeply grateful for his service to our nation."
Harris did not specifically refer to her new status as the leading Democratic candidate for president.
Campaign officials and allies have already made hundreds of calls on Harris' behalf, urging delegates to next month's Democratic Party convention to join in nominating her for president in the Nov. 5 election against Republican Donald Trump.
Harris said in a post on X that she would visit what had been the Biden campaign headquarters in Delaware - now the Harris campaign headquarters - on July 22 afternoon. She said Biden, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, was feeling better.
NEW GENERATION
Harris, who is Black and Asian American, would fashion an entirely new dynamic with Trump, 78, offering a vivid generational and cultural contrast.
The Trump campaign has been preparing for her possible rise for weeks, sources told Reuters. It sent out a detailed critique of her record on immigration and other issues on July 22, accusing her of being more liberal than Biden.
It alleged that Harris favored abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and decriminalizing border crossings, backed the so-called Green New Deal, supported the administration's electric vehicle mandates and encouraged "defund the police" efforts.
Some of those were positions Harris adopted as an unsuccessful presidential candidate in the 2020 election when she was running on a more liberal agenda than Biden but were not ones that the administration assumed, particularly with regard to border security and law enforcement issues.
Biden, the oldest person ever to occupy the Oval Office, said he would remain in the presidency until his term ends on Jan. 20, 2025.
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