US: Top Democrats back Kamala Harris after Biden withdraws

Michigan Governer Gretchen Whitmer, considered a possible running mate pick for Harris, endorsed the vice president in a statement posted to social media site X.

"I am fired up to endorse Kamala Harris," she wrote.

"In Vice President Harris, Michigan voters have a candidate that they can count on to focus on lowering their costs, restoring their freedoms...and building an economy that works for working people."

In the same statement, Whitmer called former President Donald Trump a "convicted felon who stokes violence."

US Senator Joe Manchin, of the state of West Virginia, told broadcaster CBS that he would not run for the 2024 presidential election. 

"Let me make it very clear to you... I am not going to be a candidate for president. I am a candidate for basically speaking for the middle of this country," Manchin told CBS.

Asked if he thought Vice President Kamala Harris was too liberal, Manchin said, "Absolutely."

Shortly before he spoke with CBS, Manchin was asked by CNN if he would run against Harris, to which he responded: "I don't know."

Manchin is an independent and self-proclaimed centrist figure who left the Democratic Party earlier this year, claiming that it was becoming "too extreme."

In the CNN interview, he denied reports that he was considering re-registering as a Democrat, and ruled out running as Harris' vice president. 

Julius van de Laar, a strategy adviser who was part of former US President Barack Obama's campaign team, told DW that Donald Trump's campaign message against Democrats "is now out the window." 

The message of the Republican campaign has been "that Joe Biden is too old, that Donald Trump is the candidate of strength against the weakness of Joe Biden," he said.  

"Kamala Harris is significantly younger than Donald Trump, and I think she's going to be on the attack from day one."

Van der Laar noted that Harris, a former prosecutor, "can bring the case against Donald Trump" as she has done in Senate hearings before becoming vice president. 

However, it will take more than "going after Trump" and his policies for Harris to make the cut, he said. 

"Kamala Harris has to articulate a vision for the future... There has to be [an] uplifting message that's going to invigorate the [voter] base and, most importantly, draw a stark contrast from the past toward the future."

With US politics being increasingly split along partisan lines, he said Harris has a chance to pursue the so-called Double Haters. 

"Double haters, of course, being defined as those people who do not wish to see Joe Biden nor Donald Trump in the White House. I think that portion of the electorate, those 18, 19%, I think they're up for grabs." 

"Keep in mind, also during the Republican primaries, there were a bunch of voters who were opting for Nikki Haley, who just thought that Donald Trump was too extreme, who are looking for a no more nuanced position," van der Laar added.  

"I don't think Kamala Harris is going to be able to pick up all of those voters, but maybe she's going to be able to build a bridge toward a few of those voters, which might, in a close election, help secure the victory."

On a potential running Mate for Harris, he said: "I think she's most likely going to go with a white male... I'm not sure if [US Americans are] ready for a double female ticket on the president and the vice president."

He named Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly as potential vice presidential candidates.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sees Kama Harris as an "experienced and competent politician", a spokesperson said, declining to comment however on whether the German government is working with the assumption that Harris will definitely be the Democratic candidate.

Scholz's office said they were preparing for all eventualities but that the chancellor had met Biden and Harris several times, and that there was a "certain closeness and familiarity" between them.

Belgium's Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib has praised Harris as a "strong woman" who she "wished all the best" to, should she be confirmed as the Democratic candidate.

Lahbib added that "Biden did a great job for many, many years," and that his stepping down was "a courageous decision." 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on his way to Washington on Monday to deliver a speech to the US Congress this week.

Ahead of the trip, he said that "I will tell my friends on both sides of the aisle (in Congress) that regardless who the American people choose as their next president, Israel remains America's indispensable and strong ally in the Middle East."

"In this time of war and uncertainty it's important that Israel's enemies know that America and Israel stand together today, tomorrow and always."

"I plan to see President Biden, whom I've known for over 40 years. This will be an opportunity to thank him for the things he did for Israel in the war and during his long and distinguished career in public service, as senator, as vice president, and as president."

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock praised Biden's decision, saying he had put his country's interests ahead of his own.

"I have great respect for the US president's decision," she said ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

"Biden has also done an incredible amount for transatlantic relations, and not just during his term as president,"

Baerbock added that "we are all waiting with anticipation to see how the next few weeks unfold in the US, as cooperation between the US and Europe is central for our peace and security."

US President Joe Biden decided to quit the presidential race on Sunday after poring over polling data for two days that showed his low chances at victory, two sources told Reuters news agency.

A day before this decision, Biden had told several aides that he would continue his campaign. One source said, "The message was proceed with everything, full speed ahead."

One of the sources said the polling data shown to Biden showed Democrats trailing behind in the six swing states that usually decide election results. Biden was also behind in Democrat strongholds like Virginia and Minnesota.

Biden seemed to have changed his mind late Saturday. He had a short call with his White House and campaign staff at about 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, only a few minutes before his public announcement in a letter to Americans.

Naomi Biden, the granddaughter of President Biden, has written a moving tribute to her grandfather on messaging platform X, formerly Twitter.

"I’m nothing but proud today of my Pop, our President, Joe Biden, who has served our country with every bit of his soul and with unmatched distinction," she wrote.

"Not only has he been — and will continue to be — the most effective president of our lifetime, but he has likely already cemented himself as the most effective and impactful public servant in our nation’s history," she said, adding: "Our world is better today in so many ways thanks to him."

Naomi Biden, 30, a lawyer, is the daughter of Joe Biden's son Hunter and his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle.

She was one of those who encouraged her grandfather to run for president in the 2020 elections that saw him elected against Donald Trump.

 

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said: "I respect President Joe Biden's decision not to run for re-election. He justifies the decision by saying that he wants to put the country before himself. That reasoning commands respect," according to his statement to Reuters news agency.

He added that he particularly commended Biden's "leadership in NATO." Biden has been credited with the expansion of the military alliance, with Finland and Sweden joining it most recently.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also paid his respects in a post on X, writing: "Mr. President @JoeBiden, many times you have made difficult decisions that have made Poland, America, and the world safer, and democracy and freedom stronger. I know that you were guided by the same principles when announcing your latest decision. Perhaps the most difficult one in your life."

Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, shared his thoughts on X, commending Biden's difficult decision. "I am keeping my fingers crossed for the USA that a good president emerges from the democratic competition of two strong and equal candidates," he added.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant thanked US President Joe Biden for his "unwavering support" for Israel. "Your steadfast backing, especially during the war, has been invaluable," he said on social media platform X.
 

A CNN news anchor reported that 40,000 people joined a call organized by Win With Black Women after President Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic presidential nominee.

"40,000 people on the Win With Black Women call after Biden steps aside and endorsed VP Harris for the nomination. Wild," she posted on X.

Win With Black Women is a network of Black female leaders across the US.

If elected, Harris would be the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to lead the US.

State Democratic party chairs and leaders have thrown their weight behind Kamala Harris, announcing "overwhelming support" for the vice president.

"These state party leaders are on the front lines of winning elections at every level and know that the stakes of this election could not be higher," the chairs said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

They reminded that Harris has already received the vote of some 15 million Democrats as a member of Biden's ticket. They described her as "the most qualified candidate to continue that legacy and serve as president."

"As a Black woman and a South Asian American, she represents the diversity of our Democratic coalition and its future," they said.

The chairs held a conference call after Biden's announcement he was stepping down as the party's candidate.

According to the statement, Harris won the support of most state party leaders, with no votes against her, despite there being some abstentions from a handful of members.

A Democratic fundraising group has said it witnessed "the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle" following President Joe Biden's announcement he was stepping out of the race and endorsing Kamala Harris.

The ActBlue fundraising group said grassroots supporters have raised $46.7 million (€42.9 million) since Harris' campaign launch.

"Small-dollar donors are fired up and ready to take on this election," the group said on X, formerly Twitter.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg were the latest to endorse Kamala Harris for president.

Newsom described the former California senator and attorney general as "tough," "fearless," and "tenacious."

"With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, Kamala Harris," he said on X, formerly Twitter.

Buttigieg also hailed Harris' "extraordinary leadership," vowing to do all he could to help her win.

"Kamala Harris is now the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump, and succeed Joe Biden as president," he said on X.