Top US Democrats fall in line as Harris moves toward nomination after Biden drops out

• “A lot of big dominoes have fallen,” says David Axelrod.
• The governor of California, Pennsylvania, is supporting Harris.
• Pelosi and Obama praise Biden, not endorse Harris.

Endorsements quickly poured in Sunday for Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee following Joe Biden’s surprise announcement that he would drop out of the race.

Backing the current US vice president have been a variety of party heavyweights, as well as numerous governors and other officials who were previously considered potential challengers but now have a shot at becoming her running mate.

“Many big dominoes have fallen, including almost every major, potential contender who could challenge her. It’s hard to see any other outcome here than her nomination,” former Democratic White House strategist David Axelrod, calling Harris’ sudden rush a “shock and awe campaign.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his Pennsylvania counterpart Josh Shapiro on Sunday endorsed Harris to lead the Democratic ticket, removing themselves as potential contenders.

“With our democracy at stake and our future at stake, there is no one better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump’s dark vision and lead our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, @KamalaHarris,” Newsom wrote in X.

Meanwhile, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Harris “should be the next president” and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who like Harris has sought the Democratic nomination in 2020, said he would “do whatever “What can I do to help her win this election?”

Democratic standard-bearers including Bill and Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and a number of Democratic members of Congress, including left-wing star Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, also endorsed Harris.

A number of notable figures, including former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, praised Biden for his decision, but stopped short — for now — of endorsing Harris.

Money was coming in, too, with the Democratic fundraising group ActBlue announcing that small donors had raised $46.7 million in the hours after Harris’ campaign launched — “the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle.”

Biden endorsed Harris as his replacement shortly after announcing he was leaving, saying choosing her as his running mate in 2020 “was the best decision I ever made.”

Delegates fall in line

The formal nominating process takes place at the party’s convention in the summer, where delegates chosen from the 50 states, the US capitol, and overseas territories formally anoint a candidate chosen by voters during the primaries.

Biden overwhelmingly won the primary vote, and the roughly 3,900 party delegates heading to the convention — scheduled to begin Aug. 19 in Chicago — are pledging their support.

However, after Biden’s shock announcement, the pool of delegates from several states, including Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina, immediately pledged their support for Harris. A slew of dealers from elsewhere also started lining up.

“I hope we don’t see a situation where we’re Democrats looking for an opportunity to make a name for themselves, try to stand up and run in this race,” Hendrell Remus, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party. he told AFP.

“I think now is the time to support Kamala Harris as a candidate.”