Toluse Olorunnipa, from The Washington Post, discusses President Biden's endorsement of Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. The podcast explores Harris's career evolution, Democratic unity behind her, and her advocacy for abortion rights. Also, it covers Biden's surprising announcement not to seek reelection and the challenges Harris faces as Vice President.
President Biden endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, uniting and energizing the party.
Kamala Harris faced challenges on immigration but excelled in advocating abortion rights, showcasing her candidacy strengths.
Deep dives
Biden's Legacy and Harris' Historic Nomination
Vice President Kamala Harris praised President Biden's legacy as unmatched in modern history and spoke to unify the Democratic Party around her candidacy. As a historic candidate being Black and Asian American, Harris's nomination brought major enthusiasm and support from Democrats, energizing the party.
Biden's Decision to Drop Out and Endorsement of Harris
President Biden's surprising decision to drop out of the race and endorse Kamala Harris followed discussions with close aids highlighting the impact of losing to Donald Trump on his legacy. Biden's selfless choice relieved the party of infighting and garnered massive support for Harris.
Support and Excitement for Harris
Support for Kamala Harris surged after Biden's endorsement, with various Democratic leaders and groups rallying behind her candidacy. The Win With Black Women group saw overwhelming enthusiasm, raising over $50 million rapidly to support Harris as the Democratic nominee.
Challenges and Accomplishments of Harris as Vice President
As Vice President, Kamala Harris faced challenges with her portfolio on immigration, where critics saw her performance as inadequate. However, Harris demonstrated success in championing abortion rights and holding the Trump administration accountable, highlighting her strengths as a candidate for the vice presidential role.
Yesterday, President Biden announced that he would no longer be running for reelection; he also endorsed Vice President Harris to replace him as the Democratic nominee for president in November’s election. Over the past 24 hours, endorsements of Harris have been rolling in from top Democrats.
Today on Post Reports, host Elahe Izadi speaks with The Washington Post’s White House bureau chief, Toluse Olorunnipa, about Biden’s decision to endorse Harris. Plus, host Martine Powers and White House reporter Cleve Wootson dive deep into Harris’s career and how she’s evolved as a politician over the years.
Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff and Trinity Webster-Bass. It was mixed by Sam Bair and edited by Reena Flores, with help from Ariel Plotnick.