At her Wisconsin campaign speech tonight, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced that she has gained the support of enough delegates to secure the Democratic Presidential nomination. Not only is she unopposed as the nominee, she has received the backing of several potential Democratic Presidential rivals, and more crucially the backing of the party’s top brass.
It seems the new theme of the Democratic Presidential campaign since President Joe Biden handed over the baton is “The Prosecutor vs The Convicted Felon”. Harris is a former Californian Attorney General, who has successfully prosectued many sexual predators. With this in mind, Harris declared she “knows Donald Trump’s type”! Her direct approach is revitalising the Democratic Presidential race.
President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Former House Leader Nancy Pelosi and Minority House Leader Hakeem Jeffries have all pledged their support to Harris. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has also come out in support of the Vice President, and has agreed to become the Harris campaign Vice Chair. Adding to the heavyweight support, California Governor Gavin Newsom has also pledged his allegiance, albeit he’s let it be known he doesn’t want to be considered as her Vice Presidential running mate.
Since announcing her candidacy and receiving the immediate backing of President Biden, Harris’s campaign has received a record £81m in small donor contributions. When added to the £93m in President Biden’s campaign fund which will be transferred to Harris, the Vice President will have a combined £174m war chest to fight Donald Trump in the race to the White House, with more money pouring in by the hour.
There is huge momentum behind Harris, with pop stars, actors and business leaders also coming out in support of the former California Senator. In a worrying development for Trump, Harris has also energised the Gen Z base of America, who are squarely behind her campaign, and are showing renewed enthusiasm for the Presidential race, by taking to social media to back the Vice President with pro-Harris viral videos and anti-Trump memes.
In a sign of panic, Trump and his MAGA Republican running mate JD Vance have predictably gone on the attack, accusing Harris of having failed to secure America’s southern border with Mexico. Trump has notably slipped into reverse gear regarding the agreed ABC Presidential debate scheduled for September. Trump’s team announced that due to Biden’s withdrawal, the debate was off and that he’d only take part if it was switched to the Trump friendly Fox News Network.
Crucially, Harris is closing in the polls in the key swing states she needs to win if she’s to become America’s first female President. Trump has gone from attacking Joe Biden as being too old to be President, to himself now being the ‘old man’ of the contest which is causing major issues for his campaign. The US electorate are now questioning Trump’s age and fitness to serve another term as US President.
The change in Democratic Presidential nominee has certainly thrown a curve ball in the 2024 race for the White House. The polls are showing Vice President Kamala Harris pulling clear of Trump nationally, but because of America’s electoral college voting system, it’s a few key swing states who will decide the ultimate victor.
However, momentum is everything, and as things stand, the momentum has definitely swung toward Kamala Harris. After a seven day period where Trump survived an assassination attempt and Biden stood down from the Presidential race, the world watches on with huge interest and intrigue at a contest that will have huge global consequences.
By
By
By
By
