Vice President Kamala Harris had a busy 24 hours after being endorsed as the Democratic presidential candidate by President Joe Biden. She has secured sufficient delegates to earn the party’s nomination and raise more than $81 million, a record amount for the 2024 political cycle.
Meanwhile, the director of the Secret Service testified before a congressional committee and was called up resign about security lapses at a meeting where a 20-year-old gunman tried to kill former president Donald Trump.
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Trump is again complaining about the debate plans, suggesting he may not be as confident about facing Harris as he was about facing Biden.
The former president had said he would debate Biden “anytime, anywhere, any place,” but early Tuesday morning, Trump complained for the second time since Biden withdrew that ABC News “isn’t worthy of having a debate.”
He suggested moving the debate to Fox News Channel, as he sees it as a more comfortable venue.
Vice President Kamala Harris makes her first visit on Tuesday to a state where the chances of success are at risk, after she managed to gain enough support from Democratic Representatives to win her party’s nomination to challenge former Republican President Donald Trump, two days after President Joe Biden dropped his re-election bid.
As the Democratic Party continues to coalesce around her, Harris heads to Milwaukee, where she will hold her first campaign rally since launching her campaign on Sunday with Biden’s supportHarris has raised more than $100 million since Sunday afternoon and has received support from Democratic officials and political groups.
Tuesday’s visit was planned before Biden ended his campaign, but it took on new resonance as Harris prepared to take up her party’s mantle against Trump and exuded calm and confidence after weeks of confusion in the Democratic Party about Biden’s political future.
Read more about the visit and how Wisconsin is part of the Democrats’ plans for 2024.
Vice President Kamala Harris has secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become her party’s nominee against Republican Donald Trump, aAssociated Press Surveytaken after President Joe Biden decided to drop his re-election bid.
Harris, who was endorsed by Biden minutes after he announced he would not accept the Democratic nomination, has worked to quickly win support from donors, elected officials and other leaders in her party. So far, she has received the support of at least 2,214 people.
The AP, however, is not naming Harris as the new presumptive nominee. That’s because convention delegates are still free to vote for their choice at the convention in August or when Democrats hold a virtual roll call before that gathering in Chicago.
Tatum Watkins, a 19-year-old college student from southwest Iowa and DNC delegate, said that as a young woman, she appreciates Harris speaking out on issues like reproductive rights and that she is “much closer” in age to a whole new generation of voters.
“She’s leaning heavily into what’s popular right now,” Watkins said. “I’ve already seen her branding what I can best describe as a lousy summer.”
Watkins said this has energized and excited her and other young Iowans, making her first experience voting in a presidential election “even better.”
The mood among many House Democrats quickly brightened as lawmakers returned to Washington after Biden handed the election to Harris.
“I have never been more optimistic about America because of his leadership, his selflessness and his commitment to putting country first,” said Representative Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania.
“And then Kamala — wow! — I’m excited,” she said. “I’m hearing from my constituents and people that they’re so excited.”
She said Harris could approach her campaign in a swing state like hers by choosing Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate for vice president.
President Biden will return to the White House tomorrow after spending six days at his Delaware beach house recovering from COVID-19. Biden fell ill while campaigning in Las Vegas last week and went to his vacation home to isolate.
Meanwhile, Vice President Harris travels to the state of Wisconsin, where the battle for the White House nomination is in full swing.
The event in Milwaukee is her first full-fledged campaign event since announcing her candidacy on Sunday.