Kamala Harris Clinches Democratic Nomination with Swift Delegate Wins

Kamala Harris Clinches Democratic Nomination with Swift Delegate Wins

 Kamala Harris has garnered an impressive number of pledged delegates to clinch the Democratic U.S. presidential nomination, following an exceptional two-day surge that solidified her party's support to challenge former U.S. President Donald Trump in November. Harris cemented her status as the presumptive nominee on Monday night after surpassing the crucial threshold of 1,976 pledged delegates, according to an unofficial count.

 

While delegates expressing their support are not obligated to back her nomination, this milestone — coupled with the absence of credible opposition — highlights the vice president's firm grip on the Democratic ticket.

 

U.S. President Joe Biden, who had previously appointed Harris — a former primary rival turned running mate — as his successor, announced on Sunday that he would step aside, following weeks of increasing appeals after a dismal debate performance last month.

 

Harris swiftly gained endorsements from prominent figures, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She also secured the backing of Democratic governors who were potential candidates: California's Gavin Newsom, Illinois' JB Pritzker, and Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer. Harris further benefited from enthusiastic donors, raising a record $81 million within 24 hours of announcing her candidacy.

 

"It is my intention to go out and earn this nomination and to win," Harris declared to workers at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday. "In the days and weeks ahead, I, together with you, will do everything in my power to unite our Democratic Party, to unite our nation, and to win this election."

 

Biden, currently quarantining at his beach home in Delaware after testing positive for COVID-19, called into the campaign meeting to express his unwavering support for Harris's run. "I won’t be on the ticket, but I’m still going to be fully, fully engaged," Biden said. "I’ll be doing whatever Kamala wants me, needs me to do."

 

Having secured 99% of the pledged delegates for August’s Democratic National Convention through a series of state primaries and caucuses earlier in the year, Biden's endorsement served as a unifying force for the party. Harris took over Biden's campaign, rebranding it as "Harris for President," which provided her access to its $96 million war chest. She confirmed that the campaign's leadership — chair Jennifer O’Malley Dillon and manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez — would remain in their roles.

 

Delegates will formalize their votes in the coming weeks. Earlier on Monday, party leaders announced a virtual balloting process to officially designate a nominee by August 7. Harris will soon recommend a running mate to these delegates, who will ratify the selection at the party’s national convention in Chicago during the week of August 19, or possibly through an earlier virtual roll call.

 

Speculation has abounded around a group of White, male elected officials, many from battleground states. This includes governors such as Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro, North Carolina's Roy Cooper, Kentucky's Andy Beshear, and Minnesota's Tim Walz, as well as Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona. Whitmer, however, told CBS's Lansing affiliate that she was not interested in the position.

 

Former Attorney General Eric Holder and his firm, Covington & Burling, are overseeing the vetting of potential running mates, according to an informed source. In another indication of Harris's broad and swift support, the AFL-CIO announced on Monday that its executive council had unanimously endorsed her.

 

Harris does face challenges, including frequent staff turnover and ongoing doubts about her retail politics skills. A recent CBS News/YouGov poll showed Harris performing better than Biden, yet still trailing Trump nationally.

 

She is set to hold her first campaign rally as a 2024 presidential candidate on Tuesday in Milwaukee.