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International Desk: Presidential hopeful Joe Biden named Senator Kamala Harris, a former rival in the White House race, as his running mate Tuesday, marking a historic first for American women of color.<\/p>\nInternational Desk: Presidential hopeful Joe Biden named Senator Kamala Harris, a former rival in the White House race, as his running mate Tuesday, marking a historic first for American women of color.<\/p>\n
Biden\u2019s announcement capped a months-long search for a Democratic partner to challenge President Donald Trump in November.<\/p>\n
Harris, who would become America\u2019s first female and first black vice president if elected, is a \u201cfearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country\u2019s finest public servants,\u201d Biden, 77, said in revealing his running mate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n
The decision, announced in typical 2020 style on social media, was a crucial moment for Biden as he aims to build a broad coalition of voters to oust Trump from the White House.<\/p>\n
Harris, who at 55 is two decades Biden\u2019s junior, could appeal to younger voters and women, particularly those in the suburbs who have been fleeing Trump.<\/p>\n
The former California attorney general is the first person of Indian descent in the running mate role, and personifies the diversity seen as key to building enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket, particularly in a year marked by a historic reckoning on race.<\/p>\n
She is the third female vice presidential nominee for a major party, after the groundbreaking but unsuccessful runs of Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Republican Sarah Palin in 2008.<\/p>\n
Hillary Clinton was the first female presidential nominee, losing to Trump in 2016.<\/p>\n
Harris, who ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination against Biden, said she was \u201chonored\u201d to join the ticket and would \u201cdo what it takes\u201d to help him win.<\/p>\n
\u201c@JoeBiden can unify the American people because he\u2019s spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he\u2019ll build an America that lives up to our ideals,\u201d she tweeted.<\/p>\n
For Harris, being elevated onto a presidential ticket is the political moment of a lifetime. And if they win, the telegenic but tough Californian would almost certainly become the frontrunner in the race for the 2024 or 2028 Democratic nomination.<\/p>\n
Biden would be the oldest person to take the office, and there is broad speculation that should Biden win, he would serve one four-year term and groom his deputy to succeed him.<\/p>\n
That puts Harris in the extraordinary position as potential flag bearer of the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
Biden is likely confident that Harris has the policy chops and governing experience to help lead on day one, and immediately step into the job as president if needed.<\/p>\n
Trump poured scorn on Biden\u2019s announcement, saying he was \u201csurprised\u201d at his choice given what Trump called Harris\u2019s lackluster performance in the Democratic nomination race.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe did very poorly in the primaries\u201d Trump told reporters at the White House. \u201cAnd that\u2019s like a poll.\u201d<\/p>\n
He went on to attack Harris for her role in the bruising confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, calling her \u201cthe meanest, the most horrible, the most disrespectful of anybody in the US Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Harris, who beat out nearly a dozen other women to become the running mate, has shown she can parry such blows, a cherished quality for anyone facing an onslaught of negativity from a caustic president.<\/p>\n
Biden\u2019s pick of Harris drew ringing endorsements from other quarters \u2014 including from Barack Obama, America\u2019s first black commander in chief.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is more than prepared for the job,\u201d tweeted Trump\u2019s predecessor. \u201cThis is a good day for our country. Now let\u2019s go win this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013 Trailblazer \u2013<\/p>\n
Harris has been a barrier-breaker for much of her career.<\/p>\n
Her parents were immigrants to the United States \u2014 her father from Jamaica, her mother from India. She was the first black woman elected as California\u2019s attorney general, and only the second black woman, and first person of South Asian heritage, to serve in the US Senate.<\/p>\n
Biden\u2019s team stated that the two Democrats will deliver remarks Wednesday in Wilmington, Delaware as they kick off their joint campaign.<\/p>\n
Next week the party convenes its Democratic National Convention \u2014 largely online due to the coronavirus pandemic \u2014 when Biden and Harris will both deliver acceptance speeches.<\/p>\n
Harris clashed with Biden during the first Democratic debate last year, chiding the former senator over his opposition to 1970s busing programs that forced integration of segregated schools.<\/p>\n
It provided her with a breakout moment which proved short-lived: Harris exited the race in December 2019 and endorsed Biden in March.<\/p>\n
Despite their debate fireworks, Biden has made it clear he does not hold a grudge, describing Harris as a \u201cfirst-rate intellect, a first-rate candidate and a real competitor.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
International Desk: Presidential hopeful Joe Biden named Senator Kamala Harris, a former rival in the White House race, as his running mate Tuesday, marking a historic first for American women of color. Biden\u2019s announcement capped a months-long search for a Democratic partner to challenge President Donald Trump in November. Harris, who would become America\u2019s first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":61550,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2,5,14],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n