Vice President Kamala Harris is set to campaign in the crucial battleground state of Wisconsin on Tuesday, marking her first appearance as a presidential candidate after securing enough Democratic delegate endorsements to clinch the nomination. This comes after President Joe Biden withdrew from his re-election campaign on Sunday, following internal party conflicts and declining support in polls against Republican rival Donald Trump. Harris quickly garnered the necessary delegate support, winning the pledged backing of a majority of party delegates by Monday night.
In a statement, Harris expressed pride in securing the broad support needed to become the party’s nominee and looked forward to formally accepting the nomination soon. An Associated Press survey indicated Harris had over 2,500 delegates, far surpassing the 1,976 needed. While delegates could technically change their minds, none had pledged support to another candidate, with 54 delegates undecided.
Harris's trip to Wisconsin, a key state along with Michigan and Pennsylvania, aims to reset the Democratic campaign and position her as the best candidate to defeat Trump. Scheduled to speak in Milwaukee at 1:05 p.m. CDT (1805 GMT), Harris hinted at her strategy by referencing her prosecutorial background and past efforts against "predators" and "fraudsters," drawing a parallel to Trump, whom she described as a "convicted felon."
Wisconsin is critical for any candidate, with Biden previously trailing Trump in this Rust-Belt state. Paul Kendrick, executive director of the Democratic group Rust Belt Rising, noted Harris's potential to attract independents and young voters dissatisfied with their choices.
In terms of fundraising, Harris's campaign reported raising $81 million since Biden stepped aside, nearly matching the Biden campaign's $95 million banked at the end of June. Hollywood support surged, with figures like Cardi B, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Shonda Rhimes endorsing Harris.
Meanwhile, Trump and his allies have attempted to link Harris to Biden's less popular policies, particularly on immigration. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized Harris's record and equated her policies with Biden's.
The shift in candidacy has sparked speculation about Harris's vice-presidential pick, with potential candidates including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley emphasized Harris's potential to re-engage Black voters who were previously unenthusiastic about Biden and Trump, highlighting her historic role as the first Black and South Asian American vice president.