Influential members of the US Democratic Party, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama, did not support the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris as a running mate, The New York Times reports.
Barack Obama opposes Harris
Democratic leaders in the US Congress Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, unlike incumbent President Joe Biden, also publicly did not support Harris’ candidacy. Former US President Barack Obama, in his statement on the withdrawal from the race of current White House chief Joe Biden, expressed support for the latter, but refrained from directly endorsing any other candidate for the Democratic Party’s highest office.
He noted in his statement:
Joe has never given up the fight. For him to look at the political landscape and decide that he should pass the torch to a new nominee is surely one of the toughest in his life. But I know he wouldn’t make this decision unless he believed it was right for America. It’s a testament to Joe Biden’s love of country — and a historic example of a genuine public servant once again putting the interests of the American people ahead of his own that future generations of leaders will do well to follow.
According to NBC sources, Mr Obama has not endorsed Mrs. Harris because he wants to play a “key role” in uniting the Democratic Party around the candidate who eventually gets the nomination. The TV station recalls that he spoke out in support of Mr. Biden in the 2020 election but did not officially endorse him until Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race. According to anonymous sources, Mr. Obama is promoting the candidacy of his wife, Michelle Obama.
Joe Manchin will not run as an aide to Kamala Harris
Sen. Joe Manchin, R-West Virginia, said he will not run as an aide to Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, amid reports that he is considering running for president himself. The senator rejected the idea of running on the Democratic ticket alongside Harris, whom most Democrats have already endorsed, to nominate her for the top spot instead of Biden. “No,” Manchin said when asked if he would run with Harris in 2024.
The second-highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party’s 2024 presidential nominee on Monday. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass, said in a statement:
I proudly and enthusiastically endorse Kamala Harris for President of the United States. Harris is a champion for working families and reproductive freedom. She stood up to corporate greed and lowered prescription drug costs for seniors. She expanded the Child Tax Credit and cut child poverty in half.
Clark then went on to contrast Harris with former President Trump, saying the Republican nominee is a threat to “our core principles of democracy and justice for all.”
The Clintons expressed unanimous support
Meanwhile, Bill and Hillary Clinton have said they endorse the proposal by the now-retired President Biden to nominate Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee and assured that they will do everything to support her Former US President Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have announced their support for current Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s nominee for the White House in November.
Their joint statement on X said:
We are honored to join the President in endorsing Vice President Harris and will do whatever we can to support her.
The Clinton couple pointed out after the current US chief of staff announced his withdrawal from the presidential race. In a statement, they also thanked President Biden for his work in the White House.
Biden after the failed debate risked losing to Trump in the upcoming election, which is pushing up the ratings of his rivals in the Democratic Party. On Sunday, July 21, Biden released a statement on the withdrawal of his candidacy, which, according to him, is in the interests of the United States and the Democratic Party.
The US presidential election will be held on November 5, 2024. The Democratic convention, at which the party will approve the candidate, will be held in August.
