Vice President Kamala Harris praised President Biden's accomplishments on Monday, claiming he has done more than other presidents with less time. She also announced her intention to run for president in 2024 after Biden endorsed her as his successor.
Vice President Kamala Harris praised President Biden on Monday for his accomplishments in the first few years of his term, claiming he has done more than other presidents and with less time than they had.
"In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who have served two terms in office," she said in opening remarks at the White House's event for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship teams.
Kamala Harris Praises Biden's Legacy, Announces 2024 Bid
Biden announced his decision to step aside and suspend his 2024 presidential campaign after significant pressure mounted for him to do so. "It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president," he wrote in a letter posted to Twitter on Sunday. "While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term."
The president endorsed Harris as his successor after announcing his decision. "I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination," she responded in a statement.
Kamala Harris Praises Biden's Legacy, Announces 2024 Bid
Harris' remarks on Monday were the first after she accepted Biden's endorsement, making her intention to be the 2024 Democratic nominee known.
She complimented the president, specifically for "his honesty, his integrity, his commitment to his faith and his family, his big heart and his love, deep love of our country."
Kamala Harris Praises Biden's Legacy, Announces 2024 Bid
"I am first-hand witness that every day our president, Joe Biden, fights for the American people. And we are deeply, deeply grateful for his service to our nation," she added.
The vice president also told attendees that Biden wanted to attend the event, adding, "He is feeling much better and recovering fast, and he looks forward to getting back on the road."
Kamala Harris Praises Biden's Legacy, Announces 2024 Bid
Harris said she would be heading to the campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, to say hello to the staff during her first full day of campaigning for president.
"One day down. 105 to go. Together, we're going to win this," she wrote on Twitter.
While some Democrats stopped short of endorsing Harris as Biden had on Sunday, a plethora of high-profile endorsements for her poured in on Monday morning, many of which were from those being speculated to challenge her. Without a prominent challenger thus far, Harris could be poised to have the party coalesce around her as the nominee.
Harris' decision to run for president in 2024 marks the beginning of a new chapter in her political career. She has served as vice president for the past two years, and her time in office has been marked by both challenges and accomplishments. She has been praised for her work on issues such as voting rights and immigration, but she has also faced criticism for her handling of the border crisis.
The 2024 presidential election is still more than two years away, but Harris is already considered to be a frontrunner in the Democratic field. She has a strong base of support among Democratic voters, and she is expected to receive the endorsement of many establishment Democrats.
If Harris is successful in her bid for the presidency, she would become the first woman and the first African American to hold the office. She would also be the oldest person to be elected president for the first time, at 58 years old.
The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent history. Harris is just one of several candidates who have already announced their intention to run for president. The Republican field is also expected to be crowded, and it is likely that the race will be close.
It is still too early to say who will win the 2024 presidential election. However, Harris is a strong contender, and she has the potential to make history.
