Democrats Rally Behind Kamala Harris After Biden Withdraws; Speculation on Running Mate

Washington and the world are still processing President Joe Biden’s surprise announcement on Sunday that he is ending his re-election campaign. In a move that has energized Democrats, Biden swiftly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place at the top of the Democratic ticket, reinvigorating their campaign to defeat former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.

The “Biden for President” campaign committee has been officially renamed the Harris for President committee, retaining the Biden campaign’s infrastructure, staff, and its $98 million in cash reserves. This transition has spurred a wave of donations, with tens of millions of dollars flowing into the Harris for President campaign.

With Harris now the presumptive Democratic nominee, speculation is swirling about her potential choice for a running mate. Several Democratic governors are considered early favorites, including Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

On the Republican side, the Trump campaign is scrambling to adjust its strategy. Originally built to face Joe Biden, the campaign now needs to pivot to contend with Kamala Harris.

Both parties are also grappling with the aftermath of an assassination attempt on Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Trump survived the attempt, but a supporter in the audience was tragically killed. The incident has raised serious questions about security and what led to the breach that allowed the would-be assassin to take a shot at Trump while he was on stage.