Biden’s unprecedented exit from the presidential race, Kamala Harris starts in driver's seat

Joe Biden's unexpected decision to exit the presidential race has sent shockwaves through the political landscape. With the Democratic nomination now up for grabs, Kamala Harris finds herself in the driver's seat, poised to take on the challenge of leading the party to victory in November.

Biden's exit marks a significant turning point in this election cycle, as he was widely seen as one of the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination. His decision to step aside has left many supporters disappointed and unsure of what comes next. However, Harris' strong showing in recent debates and her ability to connect with voters make her a formidable candidate who is well-positioned to lead the party forward.

While Biden won virtually all of the delegates to next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago and was the party’s presumptive nominee, he relinquishes that title by stepping aside and has no direct power over choosing whom those delegates will officially nominate.

That’s because the convention delegates, the people who actually pick the Democratic Party’s nominee, are not bound by any law or party rules to back the candidate they’re pledged to support. They only have to “in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them.”

Biden quickly endorsed Harris to be the party’s presidential nominee after dropping from the race Sunday afternoon. He said on social media that selecting Harris to be his vice president was “the best decision I’ve made” and “it’s time to come together” behind Harris to beat Trump.

Dozens of senior Democrats and grandees including former president Barack Obama, Senate leader Chuck Schumer and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi immediately praised the decision and lauded Mr Biden's accomplishments in office.

Former president Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic candidate for president Hillary Clinton said they backed Kamala Harris as the party's candidate for November's vote, saying they would "fight with everything we've got to elect her".

While Mr Obama stated that he had "extraordinary confidence" that an "outstanding nominee emerges", he did not explicitly back Ms Harris or any other candidate.

Ms Pelosi has not commented.

Peter Welch, the first Democratic senator to call on Biden to drop his re-election run, called for an "open process" to nominate Harris.

Biden won the vast majority of delegates and every nominating contest but one, which would have made his nomination a formality. Now that he has dropped out, those delegates will be free to support another candidate.

Harris, 59, appeared to be the natural successor, in large part because she is the only candidate who can directly tap into the Biden campaign’s war chest, according to federal campaign finance rules.

Read more

Sarah H

Also on site :

• ‘Are they nuts?’: Lego fans perplexed over launch of $199 wearable brick clogs in collaboration with Crocs
• Toyota is recalling 162,000 vehicles over screen issue - check if you’re affected
• New York bartender serves table of 6. Then they tell her to go home: ‘They wanted drinks and appetizers’