By Sally Sara: US Vice President Kamala Harris has given her first public remarks since Joe Biden dropped out of the US presidential race and endorsed her to run. A number of high profile Democrats have also come out in support of the VP, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several state governors. But despite the renewed momentum, the Democrats are being warned that the path to victory is far from guaranteed. Gavin Coote reports.
Gavin Coote: A day after Joe Biden endorsed her as his replacement, Kamala Harris arrived in Delaware, rallying staff at her campaign headquarters.
Sally Sara: We have doors to knock on. We have people to talk to. We have phone calls to make. And we have an election to win.
Gavin Coote: While vowing to unite her party, the Vice President, who was formerly a top prosecutor in California, was also on the attack.
Sally Sara: During the foreclosure crisis, I took on the big Wall Street banks and won $20 billion for California families. Holding those banks accountable for fraud. Donald Trump was just found guilty of 34 counts of fraud.
Gavin Coote: Ahead of her speech, President Biden called in, making his first comments since going into COVID isolation last week.
Joe Biden: I know yesterday’s news is surprising and hard for you to hear, but it was the right thing to do.
Gavin Coote: While promising to remain fully engaged for the remainder of his presidency, Mr. Biden urged everyone to get behind Kamala Harris.
Joe Biden: The name has changed the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed at all. And by the way, I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be out there in the campaign with her, with Kamala. I’m going to be working like hell.
Gavin Coote: As the Democratic Party quickly consolidates support behind the Vice President, no potential challenges have emerged. Sahil Kapur, who’s senior national political reporter with NBC News, thinks there’s little appetite in the party for an open contest.
Sahil Kapur: I thought about 24 hours ago after Joe Biden dropped out that it was pretty much a 50-50 chance as to whether there would be a rapid coalescing behind one candidate or whether there would be a competition. Rapidly, one after another, after another, they have coalesced behind Kamala Harris. That includes Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who’s widely seen as a presidential prospect in the future. She’s said she won’t run. She’s endorsed Kamala Harris. Same thing with Gavin Newsom, governor of California. Same thing with Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennsylvania. Same thing with Mark Kelly, the senator from Arizona.
Gavin Coote: But some, including former President Barack Obama, have stopped short of endorsing Kamala Harris, instead arguing for an open contest. Molly Roberts is an editorial writer and columnist with The Washington Post, who points out such a contest would add legitimacy to the eventual nominee.
Molly Roberts: It would be better if this didn’t look like a coronation is what’s motivating them. I think the idea that it’s easier for Republicans to say what they’re saying already, that this isn’t Democratic, that this is the choice of the donors and the elites, to defend that argument, it would help to have a competitive and open process.
Gavin Coote: For now, all eyes are on Kamala Harris and how the Trump campaign is adjusting after Joe Biden’s exit.
Michael Steele: This is a different race for them, and they’re already projecting that. Donald Trump rage tweeting at 2am about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris gives you a sense that something’s different here.
Gavin Coote: Michael Steele was formerly the Republican National Committee chairman and has long been critical of Donald Trump.
Michael Steele: But here’s my bet. I will be surprised if the 34-time convicted felon stands on a stage opposite a prosecutor in a debate. Because that right now, you can already see Donald Trump putting out feelers for backing away from that debate in September. So it’ll be interesting to see what happens as the campaign really gets underway after the Democratic convention.
Gavin Coote: As the election contest firms up, the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a campaign rally earlier this month remains under close scrutiny. The director of the US Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, has told Congress the shooting was the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades.
Kimberly Cheatle: As a director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse of our agency. We are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations. We must learn what happened and I will move heaven and earth to ensure that an incident like July 13th does not happen again.
Gavin Coote: One man was killed at the rally and three others, including Mr Trump, were injured. Authorities are yet to determine what motivated the 20-year-old gunman.
Sally Sara: That’s Gavin Coote there.
