WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris is in the spotlight, suddenly the leading candidate to succeed President Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and her the party’s main hope to defeat Republican Donald Trump.
She spoke to Biden multiple times on Sunday, according to people familiar with the conversations — a day after Biden met with his closest aides in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, as he began to conclude that he would end his re-election bid. About two hours after Biden’s surprise announcement on Sunday, Harris released her own statement, making clear that she knew the nomination would not be handed to her without a fight.
“I am honored to have the president’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said. “Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, speaking to Americans about the clear choice in this important election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead.”
Then Harris quickly got to work. She spent much of Sunday afternoon calling Democratic elected officials and congressional representatives as she worked to secure her party’s nomination. One call was with Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Nanette Barragan, who insisted she was “fully behind” the vice president and urged donations on her behalf.
Harris also spoke with Rep. Annie Kuster, who leads the New Democrat Coalition, an influential bloc of center-left lawmakers. Kuster endorsed Harris on Sunday afternoon.
Notably, a handful of men who had already been discussed as potential running mates for Harris — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly — also quickly issued statements endorsing her. Aides for Shapiro and Cooper confirmed that Harris had spoken to them Sunday afternoon. In her brief phone call with Cooper, the North Carolina governor told Harris he was supporting her as the Democratic nominee, Cooper spokeswoman Sadie Weiner said.
Harris also quickly drew endorsements from leaders of several influential caucuses and political organizations, including the AAPI Victory Fund, which focuses on Asian American and Pacific Islander voters, The Collective PAC, focused on building Black political power, and the Latino Victory Fund. While some Democrats remained mum on who they wanted as their nominee, many others said the party should unite behind Harris immediately, seeking to move beyond the painful, public deliberations that have marked the weeks since the July 27 Biden-Trump debate.
“Joe Biden is a great American, and we all owe him our immense gratitude for his service to our country as president, vice president and senator,” said Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y. “There is no better person to pass the baton to than Vice President Harris.”
But there were early signs that she may not be alone in the Democratic race. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who left the party earlier this year to become an independent, is considering re-registering as a Democrat to run for the vice presidential nomination, said Jonathan Kott, a longtime adviser to Manchin.
Harris also hadn’t yet managed to rally the party’s top heavyweights behind her. While former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsed her before she even commented on Biden’s decision to leave the race, former President Barack Obama held back, promising support only for the party’s eventual nominee.
On Sunday evening, Harris sent out her first fundraising email, declaring, “I am running for President of the United States.”
“It has been the honor of my life to serve with our Commander in Chief, my friend, President Joe Biden — one of the finest public servants we will ever know,” she wrote in the invitation. “And I am humbled by his support and endorsement. And I am eager to run based on what Joe and I have accomplished together.”
Campaign dollars have already started pouring in for Harris. Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue said Sunday night that small donors raised more than $27.5 million in the first five hours of Harris’ candidacy.
“Rank supporters are energized and excited to support her as the Democratic candidate,” the group said on X, the social media site.
But as she works to consolidate the party behind her, Harris still has her day job — at a time when Biden has been sidelined by a bout of COVID-19. She is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington later this week. Harris also has a previously scheduled campaign trip to Milwaukee on Tuesday.
___
AP White House correspondent Zeke Miller and writers Marc Levy and Stephen Groves contributed to this report.