Democrats start rallying behind Harris after Biden withdraws

State Democratic party chairs and leaders have thrown their weight behind Kamala Harris, announcing "overwhelming support" for the vice president.

"These state party leaders are on the front lines of winning elections at every level and know that the stakes of this election could not be higher," the chairs said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

They reminded that Harris has already received the vote of some 15 million Democrats as a member of Biden's ticket. They described her as "the most qualified candidate to continue that legacy and serve as president."

"As a Black woman and a South Asian American, she represents the diversity of our Democratic coalition and its future," they said.

The chairs held a conference call after Biden's announcement he was stepping down as the party's candidate.

According to the statement, Harris won the support of most state party leaders, with no votes against her, despite there being some abstentions from a handful of members.

A Democratic fundraising group has said it witnessed "the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle" following President Joe Biden's announcement he was stepping out of the race and endorsing Kamala Harris.

The ActBlue fundraising group said grassroots supporters have raised $46.7 million (€42.9 million) since Harris' campaign launch.

"Small-dollar donors are fired up and ready to take on this election," the group said on X, formerly Twitter.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg were the latest to endorse Kamala Harris for president.

Newsom described the former California senator and attorney general as "tough," "fearless," and "tenacious."

"With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, Kamala Harris," he said on X, formerly Twitter.

Buttigieg also hailed Harris' "extraordinary leadership," vowing to do all he could to help her win.

"Kamala Harris is now the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump, and succeed Joe Biden as president," he said on X.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is the latest to endorse Kamala Harris' presidential bid, saying she "should be the next president."

"I’ve known [the vice president] going back to our days as AGs(attorney generals), and she has what it takes to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country thoughtfully and with integrity," Cooper said on X, formerly Twitter.

The governor of North Carolina said he looked forward to campaigning for Harris "as we work to win NC up and down the ticket." Democrats are hoping to win North Carolina in the presidential race. 

Cooper is among the names which emerged as potential running mates for Harris.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed US President Joe Biden's "tough but strong" decision to drop out of the presidential race, thanking him for his critical "unwavering support" for Ukraine.

"Many strong decisions have been made in recent years and they will be remembered as bold steps taken by President Biden in response to challenging times. And we respect today's tough but strong decision," Zelenskyy said on X, formerly Twitter.

Zelenskyy said his country would always be grateful for Biden.

"The current situation in Ukraine and all of Europe is no less challenging, and we sincerely hope that America's continued strong leadership will prevent Russian evil from succeeding or making its aggression pay off."

Zelenskyy has also spoken to Republican candidate Donald Trump on the phone this weekend, saying that Ukraine would always be grateful for US help in strengthening Kyiv's ability "to resist Russian terrors."

Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor of the Pennsylvania, has joined those supporting Kamala Harris' presidential bid after Biden stepped down and endorsed his vice president for the top job.

"I will do everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States," Shapiro said on X, formerly Twitter.

The governor said that the "contrast in this race could not be clearer and the road to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania." 

Pennsylvania is a key swing state. Republican Donald Trump won the state in the 2016 presidential race, helping propel him to victory that year, whereas Biden won the state in the 2020 presidential election.

"I've known Kamala Harris for nearly two decades – we've both been prosecutors, we've both stood up for the rule of law, we've both fought for the people and delivered results," Shapiro said, describing her as a "patriot worthy of our support."

US Arizona Senator Mark Kelly expressed support for Kamala Harris after Joe Biden stepped aside from his reelection bid. Kelly is one of the rumored top picks for vice president if Harris wins the Democratic presidential nomination.   

"I couldn’t be more confident that Vice President Kamala Harris is the right person to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country into the future," Kelly, also a combat veteran and former astronaut, said on X, formerly Twitter.

Arizona is a vital swing state in the presidential election. 

Kelly also vowed his wife Gabby Giffords' support for Harris. Former congresswoman Giffords was shot in the head and seriously wounded in 2011 while hosting a "Congress on your Corner" meeting with constituents in the parking lot of a supermarket.

Russia said it would "closely monitor the situation," after Joe Biden pulled out of the US presidential race.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin had characterized Biden as a predictable candidate, who Russia would have preferred.

However, Peskov added: "The election is still four months away, and that is a long time during which much can change."

"We have to be patient and closely monitor what happens next," Peskov said. 

Speculation had been growing for weeks that Biden would step aside after a disastrous performance against Republican rival Donald Trump in the presidential TV debate.

JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate on Donald Trump's ticket, blasted Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, whom the president has endorsed in his stead.

"Joe Biden has been the worst President in my lifetime and Kamala Harris has been right there with him every step of the way," Vance said on X, formerly Twitter.

He said Harris had "co-signed" Biden's policies on border security and environmental issues, claiming such policies hiked housing and groceries prices.

"She owns all of these failures, and she lied for nearly four years about Biden's mental capacity," Vance said. "President Trump and I are ready to save America, whoever's at the top of the Democrat ticket. Bring it on."

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to US President Joe Biden's "remarkable career" after the 81-year-old withdrew from the Democrat Party's nomination.

"I respect President Biden's decision and I look forward to us working together during the remainder of his presidency," Starmer wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, he will have made his decision based on what he believes is best for the American people," he added.

Earlier this month, the British leader held talks with Biden on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington D.C.

Starmer was asked by reporters about rumors swirling of Biden having symptoms of dementia. He replied that the president had been on "really good form."

Ireland's Taoiseach [prime minister] Simon Harris thanked Biden for his friendship to the Irish nation, noting that the US leader had visited the Republic and Northern Ireland the previous year.

He said Biden had expressed a "fierce pride" in his Irish ancestry and had acted as a voice for "reason, effective multilateralism and shared solutions."

Many people - pundits, politicians and average Joe-Democrats had been waiting for US President Joe Biden to withdraw from the Democratic Party nomination, DW's correspondent in Washington D.C. Stefan Simons said.

Simons described a "mixed reaction from the public" to Sunday's announcement, with some Democrats relieved after weeks of speculation about Biden's future.

"Others are angry and are blaming donors and the Democratic Party's elite — [former House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi, [Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and [House Minority Leader] Hakim Jeffries —  for having pressured President Biden into stepping away from the race," he said.

After Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party's nominee, a month before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and just four months before the presidential election, Simons said:

"The real work for Democrats to revive this campaign starts right now."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said US President Joe Biden'sdecision to pull out of the Democrat nomination for the White House deserves "respect"

Scholz praised Biden's achievements during his four-year term, including strengthening the NATO military alliance and rebuilding Washington's reputation globally.

"Joe Biden has achieved a great deal: for his country, for Europe, for the world," Scholz said on X, formerly Twitter.

"Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong and the USA is a good and reliable partner for us. His decision not to run again deserves respect."
 

Vice President Kamala Harris in a statement praised US President Joe Biden's move to step aside from the Democratic nomination, calling it "patriotic."

"With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else," she said in a statement.

Harris said she will "earn and win" the Democratic nomination and defeat Trump.  

"I am honored to have the president's endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination," she said. "I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump."

Former US President Barack Obama, who had privately shared doubts about Joe Biden's reelection chances, stopped short of endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrat nominee.

Obama posted a statement after Biden announced Sunday he was pulling out of the race for a second term in the White House.

"Joe [Biden] understands better than anyone the stakes in this election — how everything he has fought for throughout his life, and everything that the Democratic Party stands for, will be at risk if we allow Donald Trump back in the White House and give Republicans control of Congress," the former president said in a statement.

"I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges," Obama added.

But he warned that the Democrats would be "navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead."

Former US President Bill Clinton and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said they were "honored" to join President Joe Biden in endorsing Kamala Harris as the Democrat nominee for the White House.

In a joint statement, the Clintons lauded Biden's "extraordinary career of service," after his decision not to run for reelection, and said his presidency had "rebuilt a battered economy, strengthened our democracy" and "restored our standing in the world."

Regarding Harris, the pair said they "will do whatever we can to support her."

"Nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term. He has promised to be a dictator on day one," they continued.

"Now is the time to support Kamala Hamas," and "fight with everything we've got to elect her," the Clinton's added.