Washington: US Vice President Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants who ascended the California political and law enforcement ranks to become the first female vice president in U.S. history, has formally secured the Democratic presidential nomination on Monday, becoming the first woman of colour at the helm of a major party ticket.
Over four years since her initial presidential bid failed, Harris’s ascent as the Democratic standard-bearer concludes a chaotic period for the party, ignited by President Joe Biden’s calamitous June debate performance. This event eroded his supporters’ confidence in his re-election bid and ignited significant internal conflict over whether he should continue his campaign.
Following Biden’s sudden withdrawal, Harris and her team swiftly garnered support from the 1,976 party delegates required for the nomination through a formal roll-call vote. She achieved this threshold rapidly, with an Associated Press survey indicating she had secured the necessary commitments just 32 hours post-Biden’s announcement.
Harris’s nomination was confirmed following a five-day online voting session by Democratic National Convention delegates, concluding Monday night. The party announced shortly before midnight that 99% of the delegates who voted had chosen Harris. The early virtual roll call was planned to ensure Biden’s presence on the ballot in every state. The party plans to formally certify the results before conducting a celebratory roll call at the convention in Chicago later this month.
A poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, conducted after Biden’s withdrawal, revealed that 46% of Americans view Harris favourably, while a similar percentage holds an unfavourable opinion. However, a greater number of Democrats expressed satisfaction with her candidacy than with Biden’s, revitalizing a party that had been resigned to his nomination.
