The battle against Trump begins: Biden withdraws, Harris secures nomination

Vice President Kamala Harris will campaign in Wisconsin for the first time as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. With President Joe Biden stepping down from his reelection campaign, Harris has secured the nomination by garnering the support of enough Democratic delegates.

Harris officially confirmed her candidacy 36 hours after receiving Biden's endorsement on Sunday night. “I am proud to have garnered the broad support needed to be our party’s nominee,” Harris said, accepting her nomination.

STRENGTHENED BY DELEGATE SUPPORT

According to an unofficial poll by the Associated Press, Harris has the backing of over 2,500 delegates, far exceeding the required 1,976. While delegates can theoretically change their minds, no other candidate received votes in the poll, with 54 delegates remaining undecided.

Harris's trip to Wisconsin presents an opportunity for the 59-year-old former California prosecutor to reshape the Democratic campaign and demonstrate that she is the best candidate to face Trump. She is scheduled to speak at a political event in Milwaukee.

$81 MILLION IN DONATIONS

Harris’s campaign spokesperson announced that $81 million was raised in the first 24 hours after Biden’s withdrawal, setting a record for the 2024 campaign. Harris plans to highlight her history as a prosecutor in San Francisco and Attorney General of California, where she pursued "predators" and "fraudsters," to underscore her strategy against Trump.

“I know what kind of person Trump is," Harris said, describing her opponent as someone convicted of sexual assault and involved in fraud in his business, charity, and private university.

Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania are key battleground states. Biden had been trailing Trump in these states. Paul Kendrick, director of the Democratic group Rust Belt Rising, stated that Harris has a chance to win over independent and young voters.

SUPPORT FROM PROMINENT FIGURES

Harris's campaign contributions surged rapidly. Since Biden’s withdrawal, $81 million has been raised, nearly matching the $95 million the Biden campaign had at the end of June. Hollywood donors, ranging from rapper Cardi B to Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis and TV producer Shonda Rhimes, have declared their support for Harris.

Trump and his allies have attempted to link Harris to Biden's less popular policies. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said, “Kamala Harris’s poor record is one of complete failure and incompetence. Her policies are Biden’s policies and vice versa.”

Biden’s withdrawal has also sparked speculation about who might be Harris's running mate. Names such as Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer are being discussed by those familiar with domestic policy debates.