WASHINGTON: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris moved quickly on Monday to cement her front-runner status for the Democratic presidential nomination, collecting tens of millions of dollars in donations and winning endorsements of key elected officials in the party.
She raised more than $50 million for her campaign in the hours after President Joe Biden stunningly withdrew Sunday from the 2024 contest against former President Donald Trump and endorsed her candidacy.
Her campaign’s total was amassed along with a larger haul of more than $80 million collected at ActBlue, the online donation-processing portal used by Democrats.
Numerous Democratic officials endorsed the candidacy of the 59-year-old Harris, and no key challengers have announced they will fight her for the nomination.
Former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, still an influential figure within Democratic circles, endorsed her ascent to the presidential nomination, with other party leaders in Congress expected to follow.
“Today, it is with immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future that I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president of the United States,” Pelosi said in a statement.
“My enthusiastic support for Kamala Harris for president is official, personal and political.”
In addition, numerous Democratic governors across the country endorsed Harris, including J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Wes Moore of Maryland, Gavin Newsom of California, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Tony Evers of Wisconsin.
The names of several of them have been floated as possible vice-presidential running mates with Harris although she has made no public comments about who is under consideration.
(VOA)
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