Kamala Harris plans to ‘win this nomination’ after Biden endorses her: Live

As she broke the news on MSNBC on Sunday that Biden was stepping aside from the presidential race, former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said: “Obviously, this is a significant breaking news development with the President announcing he is stepping back from the race.”

“There was very little indication from people close to him and many people in the campaign that this was what was about to happen, as much as there were reports of Democrats calling on him to do that,” she added.

“I’m just going to say on a personal note, I’m just digesting this myself here because I worked for him for a year and a half and he is a remarkable person, a remarkable president,” she continued. “He’s had such a tremendous presidency where he has overcome the odds and defied people’s expectations.”

“People didn’t think he could pass an infrastructure bill. They didn’t think that he could lead through COVID,” she said. “They didn’t think he could pull countries together. He did all of those things and will continue to do those things. And also is just a deeply good human being.”

The UK Prime Minister has praised Joe Biden for making a decision based on what he believed to be in “the best interest of the American people” after the US president withdrew his bid for re-election.

Mr Biden said on Sunday that it was “in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down”.

Responding to Mr Biden’s decision, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I respect President Biden’s decision and I look forward to us working together during the remainder of his presidency.

“I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, President Biden will have made his decision based on what he believes is in the best interests of the American people.”

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the founder of the gun violence prevention organization bearing her name, said in a statement, “I am proud to endorse Kamala Harris’s historic candidacy for president of the United States.”

“Throughout her life, Vice President Harris has worked to protect the American people’s freedom and safety. I can think of no better candidate to beat Donald Trump and protect our democracy,” she added. “She will make a great president, and her strong, steadfast leadership will save lives. Mark and I will do everything we can to ensure she is elected in November.”

Joe Biden’s legacy will “rest in part” on the outcome of the presidential election campaign that has been energised by his withdrawal, an expert on American politics has said.

Leslie Vinjamuri, director of Chatham House’s US and Americas programme, said the “historic” moment had “unleashed energy into an election that for months had felt routine, and seen the lowest levels of enthusiasm among a worn-down electorate”.

Ms Vinjamuri, a professor of international relations at SOAS, said: “The President’s announcement has created the challenge of a generation for the Democratic Party – to identify and unite behind a new nominee, and running mate, and to drive confidence and enthusiasm among registered Democrats, and undecided voters, especially in swing states.

The Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff took to X to thank the president and the first lady for “their friendship and support.”

“I am deeply grateful to @POTUS and @FLOTUS for their years of friendship and support. President Biden is a true patriot who leads our nation with honesty, decency, and integrity,” he wrote. “Alongside @VP, they have fought tirelessly for families and communities, delivering for Americans across our nation. I am so proud of their accomplishments and thankful for their leadership.”

The Tennessee delegation to the Democratic National Convention announced on X on Sunday that they voted to back Harris for president.

On Sunday night, the majority of State Democratic Party chairs announced that they are backing Harris for president.

“I am proud that state party chairs, vice-chairs, and executive directors across the country are overwhelmingly uniting behind Vice President Kamala Harris,” the president of the Association of State Democratic Committees Ken Martin said in a statement on behalf of the 57 State Democratic Parties. “These state party leaders are on the front lines of winning elections at every level and know that the stakes of this election could not be higher. With our democracy on the ballot, there is no one more qualified than Vice President Harris to prosecute the case against Donald Trump.”

“Almost 15 million Democrats have already voted for Vice President Harris as a member of the Democratic ticket,” he added. “As President Biden’s partner in the White House, Vice President Harris has been a cornerstone of this administration’s extraordinary successes, and she is the most qualified candidate to continue that legacy and serve as president. As a Black woman and a South Asian American, she represents the diversity of our Democratic coalition and its future.”

“As we move forward, united, we will protect President Biden’s legacy by ensuring we do everything in our power between now and November 5 to defeat Donald Trump, stop Trump’s Project 2025, and elect Democrats up and down the ballot in every corner of this country,” he concluded.

The press release said that the “vast majority” of state party leaders voted to back Harris. While no one voted to oppose her, a few abstained “for in-state procedural reasons.”

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined a Harris campaign call on Sunday, according to Politico.

Whitmer, who is backing Harris, joined the call and endorsements rolled in supporting the vice president.

Michigan is seen as a state that Democrats have to win to have a chance to retain the White House.

Whitmer was one of Biden’s top surrogates alongside fellow governors Gavin Newsom of California and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, both of whom have endorsed Harris.

Shapiro spoke with Harris on Sunday in a separate call, the outlet noted.

Washington erupted on Sunday as President Joe Biden reversed course after weeks of calls for him to drop out and announced that he would not be the nominee for the Democratic Party in 2024.

Statements from politicians on both sides of the aisle — some clearly having been prepared for days, if not weeks — poured in as the 81-year-old Biden said that he would bow to the wishes of Democrats who feared that his campaign was heading for a historic collapse which would have dragged down-ballot Democrats into defeat this fall.

Members of the president’s party applauded him and spoke glowingly of his legacy while Republicans, coming of their own nominating contest last week, called for him to step down as president immediately. Many also condemned their rivals for supposedly ignoring the will of the voters, who in actuality were never offered a real primary challenge to Biden this year.

Six Black attorneys general issued a statement backing Harris, a former California attorney general, for president.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said in a statement that “As District Attorney, Attorney General, Senator, and now Vice President, Kamala Harris has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting and expanding the rights of all Americans.”

They added: “She has fought fearlessly to support hardworking families, strong unions, accessible education, reliable infrastructure, and healthy communities.”

“She has staunchly defended our right to choose and preserved our most sacred right to vote. There is no one more qualified to lead and continue to uphold the values of our great nation,” they continued. “With tremendous gratitude to President Joseph R. Biden for years of selfless and dedicated service to our nation, we proudly endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States.”