ATLANTA. Vice President Kamala Harris has secured enough delegate support to officially become the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race on Sunday. Harris will mark her debut as a presidential candidate with a campaign event in Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Biden’s exit, prompted by a decline in support and internal party strife, paved the way for Harris, who now leads with over 2,500 delegates—surpassing the 1,976 required to secure the nomination. Harris confirmed her status as the presumptive nominee on Monday night, stating, “Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee. I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon.”
An unofficial survey by the Associated Press confirmed Harris’s lead, with no other candidate receiving votes. Despite the possibility of delegate changes, Harris is firmly positioned as the nominee, with only 54 delegates remaining undecided.
Harris, who previously served as California’s Attorney General, will use her visit to Wisconsin to appeal to voters in critical Rust-Belt states, which include Michigan and Pennsylvania. She is scheduled to speak at a political event in Milwaukee at 1:05 p.m. CDT (1805 GMT). During her address, Harris will emphasize her prosecutorial experience, stating, “So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type,” referring to her record of pursuing “predators” and “fraudsters.”
The Wisconsin trip is seen as a key opportunity for Harris to reset the campaign narrative and demonstrate her capability to challenge Republican rival Donald Trump. Paul Kendrick, executive director of the Democratic group Rust Belt Rising, noted, “There are independents and young people who did not like their choices, and Harris has a chance to win them.”
In addition to securing the nomination, Harris has seen a significant boost in fundraising, amassing $81 million since Biden’s departure. This figure is nearly equivalent to the $95 million the Biden campaign had at the end of June. Prominent Hollywood figures, including Cardi B, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Shonda Rhimes, have endorsed Harris and contributed to her campaign.
Trump and his allies have criticized Harris, linking her policies to Biden’s unpopular decisions, particularly on immigration. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung described Harris’s record as one of “complete failure and utter incompetence,” asserting, “Her policies are Biden’s policies, and vice versa.”
The nomination also sparks speculation about potential vice presidential picks, with names such as Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer among those considered.
As Harris prepares for her campaign in Wisconsin, her ability to energize key voter demographics and address past criticisms will be crucial in the upcoming election.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
