MAKING IT OFFICIAL
Kamala Harris formally secures Dem nomination days ahead of voting deadline after turning back on Biden campaign promise
The nomination comes as JD Vance has slammed Harris for not giving a press conference in weeks
KAMALA Harris has officially secured the Democratic presidential nomination just weeks after President Joe Biden stepped down from the race.
The Democratic National Committee chair announced on Friday that Harris has collected enough delegate votes to make the nomination - meaning she'll officially be up against Republican nominee Donald Trump come November.
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Though the online voting process is ongoing until Monday, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison broke the news when Harris gained enough votes while on a virtual call with supporters.
The votes crossed the threshold after delegates started casting virtual ballots for the nomination on Thursday.
“I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of the United States,” Harris said on the call.
“I will officially accept your nomination next week, once the virtual voting period is closed.
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“Later this month, we will gather in Chicago, united as one party, where we’re going to have an opportunity to celebrate this historic moment together,” the vice president added about the DNC on August 19.
Harrison also said the party will "rally" around Harris during the convention.
The news comes as Trump's running mate, JD Vance, has bashed Harris for not holding a press conference in nearly two weeks.
"It's amazing that journalists can look themselves in the mirror while letting this person coast to a major party nomination for president," Vance slammed on X.
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"Is anyone going to ask this person a question?"
His attack came in response to Harris' remarks at Thursday's historic prisoner swap that saw Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich released from his wrongful detainment in Russia after 491 days.
Kamala Harris officially secures Democratic nomination for president in unprecedented process after Biden dropped out
A video of the VP talking about the release has sparked backlash, with people slamming Harris for "word salad"—meaning that she spoke without saying anything meaningful at all.
"This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy and strengthening alliances," Harris said in the jumbled statement.
It's amazing that journalists can look themselves in the mirror while letting this person coast to a major party nomination for president."
JD Vance
Harris's nomination makes her the first woman of color at the top of a major party's ticket.
She has yet to decide on a running mate and is expected to interview candidates over the weekend of August 3.
Kamala Harris' potential running mates
Kamala Harris accepted Joe Biden's endorsed for the Democratic presidential nomination after the president ended his reelection bid on July 21
Harris said she plans to earn and win the Democratic nomination while uniting the party.
Who are Kamala Harris' potential running mates?
- Pete Buttigieg: US Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg ran for president during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, competing against both Kamala Harris and Joe Biden.
- He was widely regarded as a breakout star, becoming the first openly gay candidate to win a presidential primary or caucus when he narrowly won the Iowa caucus during the 2020 primaries.
- Buttigieg was one of the first Democrats to formally endorse Kamala Harris after President Biden.
- In his statement, Buttigieg said Harris was "the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump, and succeed Joe Biden as President."
- Andy Beshear: Governor Beshear has created a successful career in the heavily Republican state of Kentucky.
- The 46-year-old two-term governor fully endorsed Harris for president and said he would consider being her running mate.
- Gretchen Whitmer: Michigan Governor Whitmer has been viewed as a rising star in the Democratic Party.
- In 2020, the two-term governor caught the eye of Joe Biden as a possible running mate before he ultimately selected Harris.
- Whitmer joined the growing list of Democrats who have backed Harris for president.
- A Harris-Whitmer campaign would be the first-all woman ticket for a US political party.
- Gavin Newsom: Prominent California Governor Newsom's name has long been linked to a potential presidential candidate in the upcoming election.
- Newsom has already backed Harris for president, saying, "No one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision."
- But there may be a problem if Harris and Newsom are on the same ticket.
- Both Newsom and Harris hail from California, and under the 12th Amendment of the Constitution, both members of a presidential ticket shall "not be an inhabitant of the same state."
- If Harris were to pick Newsom as her running mate, they would forfeit all of California's 54 Electoral College votes.
- Josh Shapiro: Shapiro, the Governor of Pennsylvania, is a rising star within the Democratic Party establishment.
- His stock rocketed after cruising to victory in the 2022 gubernatorial election in the state, defeating Republican rival Doug Mastriano.
- Shapiro's margin of victory was greater than Joe Biden's when he defeated Donald Trump in 2020.
- Pennsylvania is one of the swing states that Trump is trying to win.
- Trump allies told NBC News that they think Shapiro would be a super strong running mate for Harris.
- Mark Kelly: Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, 60, is also touted as one of the frontrunners.
- He possesses significant military experience, was a Navy combat pilot, and was formerly an astronaut.
- Allies of Harris believe he could help win over working-class voters as well as retain Arizona.
- Arizona is one of the Sun Belt states the Trump campaign is targeting.
The formal nomination is anticipated to be finalized by August 7, though the party's convention isn't scheduled to start until August 19.
According to Democratic officials, the quickened timeline was necessary because candidates must be on the Ohio ballot by August 7.
SAYING BYE TO BIDEN
Biden endorsed Harris as his replacement soon after dropping out of the race in July.
Harris accepted the endorsement - and then drastically changed her platform to abandon her former running mate.
She's now centering her campaign around “freedom” and the “future," which is a stark contrast from Biden’s strategy of “preserving democracy.”
HARRIS HONEYMOON CONTINUES?
The nomination comes as a recent poll by The U.S. Sun revealed that nearly a third of voters believe Harris is much less qualified than other potential nominees to be the candidate, bringing an end to the "Harris honeymoon."
Trump campaign staffers branded the "Harris honeymoon" about the VP taking the lead in the polls after it was first announced that she'd be joining the race.
The hopeful period saw her raise over $200 million in the first week of her campaign and receive backing by public figures ranging from former President Barack Obama to George Clooney.
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However, 28% percent of survey respondents think it's very unlikely that Harris can beat out former President Trump, while only 26% think that she is very likely to overtake him.
No other major candidate has challenged the vice president for the nomination.
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