After enough Democratic convention delegates pledged to support her, Vice President Kamala Harris has now entered the election battleground against Republican candidate Donald Trump. Harris will campaign in the swing state of Wisconsin for the first time as a presidential candidate on Tuesday.
With President Joe Biden, 81, backing off from his reelection campaign on Sunday, Harris was the top pick of the Democrats. Even Biden endorsed her soon after he made the decision to withdraw from the race.
By winning the support of more than 1,976 pledged delegates needed to win the Democratic Party's nomination on the first ballot, Harris secured the nomination.
"I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party's nominee," Harris said in a statement. "I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon.”
Two senior Democrats, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, are expected to endorse Harris as well.
With the debate debacle and age-related issues, Biden was losing ground against Trump in opinion polls, especially in swing states including Wisconsin and the Sun Belt states of Arizona and Nevada.
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Harris, being an American with an Indian-African origin is expected to reset the Democrats' campaign. Also, as a prosecutor Harris's race against Trump, who has a felony conviction, is likely to give a strong message as well. Experts believe that if she plays her cards right, by discussing topics including abortion, and law and reaching out to Black voters, it is possible that she will win the elections.
While referring to her earlier life as San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general pursuing "fraudsters", Harris said, "So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump's type."
Speaking to reporters, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Harris has been a leading voice on US foreign policy and is a deeply respected figure around the world.
"I've seen her command a room full of world leaders...the penetrating questions, who cuts to the chase and is intensely focused on the interests of the American people," he said.
Also, Biden in a post on X said that he would deliver a speech on Wednesday night from the Oval Office explaining his decision to end his campaign.
While attacking Harris as a VP, Steve Scalise, the Republican majority leader of the House of Representatives, said that she has been the "architect of many Biden's worst failures."
Scalise slammed Harris and said that she has been "against American energy her whole career."
Meanwhile, according to her campaign, Democrats have poured $100 million in donations into Vice President Harris's presidential bid since Sunday.
The tally was boosted by what her team calls a record 24-hour period of fundraising with $81m raised.
According to her campaign, it is the largest 24-hour period of campaign funding in presidential history.
