Kamala Harris: ‘Joe Biden’s legacy of accomplishment over the past three years is unmatched in modern history’

Monday kicked off one (or yet another) of the most unpredictable weeks in recent memory in the United States with all eyes on Vice President Kamala Harris. The historic decision taken a day earlier by Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race and his subsequent endorsement of Harris positioned her as the most likely replacement for the president at the head of the Democratic Party, less than four months before the November election and a contest against his former opponent, Republican nominee Donald Trump. As such, a low-key event on the vice president’s agenda to promote grassroots sports suddenly became the big talking point of the day in Washington.

“He is feeling much better and recovering fast, and he looks forward to getting back on the road,” she said of Biden, who contracted covid last week and has been recovering at his beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware. Harris added the president had wanted to be present as she delivered her first speech since he stood down from the campaign and went on to effusively praise his White House tenure: “Joe Biden’s legacy of accomplishment over the past three years is unmatched in modern history. In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who have served two terms,” Harris said. “His honesty, his integrity, his commitment to his faith and his family, his big heart and his love, deep love of our country — and I am firsthand witness that every day our President Joe Biden fights for the American people and we are deeply, deeply grateful of his service to our nation.”

Harris delivered her remarks on the South Lawn of the White House, where hundreds of young people from across the country were waiting for her speak at an event held each year in honor of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the body in charge of regulating sports in approximately 1,100 colleges in the United States.

Those who were hoping for some hint of her immediate plans to be revealed were left wanting, however. The vice president was more explicit about her candidacy on social networks. Harris confirmed shortly beforehand on her X account that Monday’s event was “the first full day of our campaign.” She was scheduled to travel in the afternoon to Wilmington, Delaware, to meet with the Biden candidacy team, which she automatically inherited, as well as the campaign money stored in its coffers. The president chose Wilmington, his hometown, as his headquarters. Harris’ visit was expected to mark a key moment in the transition between the two candidates.

Harris did not allude to any of these details during her appearance Monday. The rest of her message was devoted to praising the performances of those athletes present. Some of her words, which addressed the effort and tenacity necessary to achieve victory, could have been interpreted as metaphors for what lies ahead of her on a path that may culminate in Harris becoming the first female president of the United States. She avoided going directly into the issue for which half the planet was watching the event, and many questions remained in the air: does she take it for granted that the party will elect her at the Democratic National Convention in August? Has she spoken to party heavyweights such as Barack Obama or Nancy Pelosi, the latter having endorsed Harris’ candidacy later in the afternoon? And above all: has she already decided who she will choose as her running mate?

Once Biden’s endorsement was received, Harris’ team worked the phones on party members Sunday to secure their support. Over the past few hours, hundreds of delegates, prominent governors — such as Kentucky’s Andy Beshear and Illinois’ J.B. Pritzker — members of the Biden administration and influential congresspeople and senators — including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Elizabeth Warren — as well as the Clintons, lined up to back Harris’ potential candidacy to run for president of the United States.

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