Vice President Kamala Harris will campaign in Wisconsin on Tuesday, marking her first visit to the critical battleground state as a presidential candidate. This follows her securing enough Democratic delegates to endorse her, clearing her path to the nomination.
Harris became the party’s presumptive nominee after President Joe Biden withdrew from his re-election campaign on Sunday. Biden’s withdrawal came amid party tensions and internal polls indicating his declining support against Republican rival Donald Trump.
Less than 36 hours after Biden’s endorsement, Harris won the pledged support of a majority of the party’s delegates on Monday night, confirming her nomination. “Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee,” Harris stated.
An unofficial Associated Press survey showed Harris with over 2,500 delegates, surpassing the 1,976 needed for the nomination. Although delegates could still change their minds, no other candidates received any votes in the AP survey.
Harris’s Wisconsin trip offers a chance to reset the Democratic campaign and argue her case as the best candidate to defeat Trump. She is set to speak at a political event in Milwaukee at 1:05 p.m. CDT.
Backed by Biden, Harris Moves Forward
Harris, with Biden’s endorsement, has begun to outline her strategy against Trump, highlighting her experience as a prosecutor. “So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type,” she remarked, referencing Trump’s legal issues, including his conviction for sexual assault in civil court and fraud findings against his business ventures.
Wisconsin, along with Michigan and Pennsylvania, is a must-win state for any candidate. Biden had been trailing Trump in these Rust-Belt states. Paul Kendrick, executive director of the Democratic group Rust Belt Rising, noted Harris’s potential to attract independents and young voters.
Fundraising Success
Harris’s campaign has seen a significant fundraising boost, raising $81 million since Biden stepped aside, nearly matching the $95 million Biden’s campaign had in the bank at the end of June. Hollywood donors, including Cardi B, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Shonda Rhimes, have also shown their support.
Trump and his allies have attempted to link Harris to Biden’s less popular policies. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized her record, stating, “Her policies are Biden’s policies, and vice versa.”
Speculations and Strategic Moves
Harris’s nomination has sparked speculation about her potential vice presidential pick, with names like Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, US 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 being discussed.
Leading Democrats in Wisconsin believe Harris’s candidacy could reinvigorate the party and attract voters who were unenthusiastic about Biden and Trump. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley highlighted Harris’s potential to reconnect with crucial Black voters.
