Vice President Kamala Harris has come out in strong support of President Joe Biden amidst growing speculation that he may drop out of the 2024 presidential race.
In a statement, Harris defended Biden’s leadership and commitment to the American people.
“As Vice President, I see Joe Biden when the cameras are on and when the cameras are off—in the Oval Office, in the Situation Room, and on the campaign trail,” Harris said.
“Joe Biden is a leader who fights for the American people.” she added.
Harris’ statement comes as a growing number of Democrats, including several members of Congress, have called on Biden to step aside and allow Harris to take the top of the ticket.
Calls for Biden to Exit the 2024 Presidential Race
Some have argued that at 81 years old, Biden may not be best positioned to defeat former President Donald Trump in the general election.
Among those who voiced their concerns about Biden’s reelection bid is Rep. Mark Takano who called on Biden urging him to “pass the torch” to Harris in a bid to secure the Democratic Party’s future.
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“President Biden’s greatest accomplishment remains saving democracy in 2020. He can and must do so again in 2024 — by passing the torch to Vice President Harris as the Democratic Party Presidential nominee,” Takano said in a statement.
“It has become clear to me that the demands of a modern campaign are now best met by the Vice President, who can seamlessly transition into the role of our party’s standard bearer,” he added.
Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum also echoed the call urging Biden to step aside and name Harris as his replacement.
“To give Democrats a strong, viable path to winning the White House, I am calling upon President Biden to release his delegates and empower Vice-President Harris to step forward to become the Democratic nominee for President,” said McCollum in a statement.
However, Harris and the Biden campaign have remained adamant in their commitment to staying in the race.
Kamala Harris Backs Biden Despite Pressure
The vice president is expected to ramp up her campaign activities next week as Biden recovers from COVID-19.
Despite the pressure, Biden has vowed to stay in the race, and the White House has said he will return to the campaign trail as soon as he is cleared by his doctor.
In the meantime, Harris while speaking at a fundraiser in Massachusetts on Saturday July 20, shouldered the campaign’s message and reiterated her support for Biden while addressing donors at the event which raised over $2 million.
“We know which candidate in this election puts the American people first: our President, Joe Biden,” she said. “We are going to win this election. We are going to win.” she said at the fundraiser.
Confusion Within Biden’s Party
As the Democratic Party grapples with the uncertainty surrounding Biden’s future, Harris has emerged as a potential successor, with some Democrats arguing that she is the only choice to replace Biden and unite the party.
However, others have called for an open nomination process, believing it would strengthen the eventual nominee.
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Ultimately, the decision rests with Biden, who has a “very big decision to make,” according to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of the Democrats who believes that Harris is ready to step up and unite the party should Biden decide to exit the race.
“Joe Biden is our nominee. He has a very big decision to make, but we are very lucky to have Vice President Kamala Harris. Eighty million people voted for her to step up if she is needed,” Warren said in an interview.
As the party’s turmoil deepens, Biden’s allies, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have remained supportive, backing whatever path forward the US president chooses.
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