United States President Joe Biden has announced that he is endorsing vice-president Kamala Harris as his successor for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Announcing her endorsement, Biden said: “My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President.”
Even with Biden’s endorsement, Vice President Kamala Harris is required to officially secure the support of the delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month.
The conference will see nearly 4,700 votes on the next Democratic nominee. Biden has secured the support of nearly 3,900 of them by winning the primaries earlier this year.
While Biden’s endorsement holds enormous political weight, he does not have the power to compel the delegates to vote for his nominee pick.
Harris will have to ensure the backing of her party before she can run — and fend off any challenges from other presidential hopefuls. While she is seen as Biden’s most likely successor, she has also struggled with low approval ratings, comparable to those of her boss.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer paid tribute to US President Joe Biden after his decision not to run for a second term in November’s presidential election.
“Joe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he is a truly amazing human being,” Schumer said in a statement.
The Democrat said Biden’s decision “was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first. Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American,” he said.
READ ALSO: Joe Biden quits 2024 Presidential race
Along with several other Democrat lawmakers, earlier this week, Schumer privately told Biden it would be better for the country and the Democratic Party if he ended his reelection campaign.
The 59-year-old Harris entered politics after rising through the ranks to become California’s top public prosecutor. Her time in the White House, however, did not do much to raise her public profile. She was perceived as being in Biden’s shadow and attacked by the Republican party over her efforts to curb the influx of immigrants arriving from Mexico.
Harris, however, has an advantage over other potential candidates due to her access to campaign funds she has already raised with Biden. The campaign recently reported having $91 million (€83.5 million) in its own funds, with allied campaign committees bringing the total to over $240 million. The money could prove decisive in the race against the Trump-Vance campaign.
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