WASHINGTON: US vice-president Kamala Harris said on Sunday that she intends to earn and win the Democratic Party nomination for the Presidency even after endorsement by President Biden and other key figures in the party, amid indications there could be at least two other challengers.
“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Harris said in a statement, hours after turbulent developments in the Democratic Party led to President Biden bowing out of the 2024 Presidential election under pressure.
Several Democratic veterans and lawmakers, notably Hillary and Bill Clinton, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) also backed Harris, with the mainstream in the party appearing to close ranks behind her.
But challenges came from a previous aspirant, author Marianne Williamson, who declared that “nomination of a new Democratic candidate must be opened to a genuinely democratic process at an open convention.”
“No one should simply be anointed to the position of nominee; all candidates must be heard and their agendas explored. Our party’s basic first principle is democracy. We cannot save our democracy without practicing it ourselves,” she said in a statement.
Another challenge is reported to be emerging from Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia, who decamped from the Democratic side to become independent following differences with the party leadership, but is now said to be considering returning to the fold to mount a challenge for the nomination.
Ardent Biden supports from Black and Hispanic caucus such as Congressman Jim Clyburn and Ocasio-Cortez, who had said they would support Harris if and when Biden drops out, are keeping their word.
“Kamala Harris will be the next President of the United States. I pledge my full support to ensure her victory in November. Now more than ever, it is crucial that our party and country swiftly unite to defeat Donald Trump and the threat to American democracy. Let’s get to work,” AOC tweeted.
But former President Barack Obama conspicuously withheld endorsing Harris, instead alluding to the possibility of an open convention. He expressed confidence in Democratic leaders’ ability to “create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”
“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Harris said in a statement, hours after turbulent developments in the Democratic Party led to President Biden bowing out of the 2024 Presidential election under pressure.
Several Democratic veterans and lawmakers, notably Hillary and Bill Clinton, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) also backed Harris, with the mainstream in the party appearing to close ranks behind her.
But challenges came from a previous aspirant, author Marianne Williamson, who declared that “nomination of a new Democratic candidate must be opened to a genuinely democratic process at an open convention.”
“No one should simply be anointed to the position of nominee; all candidates must be heard and their agendas explored. Our party’s basic first principle is democracy. We cannot save our democracy without practicing it ourselves,” she said in a statement.
Another challenge is reported to be emerging from Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia, who decamped from the Democratic side to become independent following differences with the party leadership, but is now said to be considering returning to the fold to mount a challenge for the nomination.
Ardent Biden supports from Black and Hispanic caucus such as Congressman Jim Clyburn and Ocasio-Cortez, who had said they would support Harris if and when Biden drops out, are keeping their word.
“Kamala Harris will be the next President of the United States. I pledge my full support to ensure her victory in November. Now more than ever, it is crucial that our party and country swiftly unite to defeat Donald Trump and the threat to American democracy. Let’s get to work,” AOC tweeted.
But former President Barack Obama conspicuously withheld endorsing Harris, instead alluding to the possibility of an open convention. He expressed confidence in Democratic leaders’ ability to “create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”