Vice President Kamala Harris has held her first campaign rally in Milwaukee, in must-win Wisconsin, the recent site of the Republican National Convention, giving an energetic, punchy speech to a fired-up crowd of supporters.
She paid tribute to President Joe Biden, attacked former president Donald Trump and Project 2025, and laid out the priorities for her presidency should she win in November.
Earlier, Harris was endorsed by Hollywood star George Clooney, whose New York Times editorial calling on Biden to step aside, played a major role in pressuring the president to make way for his second in command.
Harris has already secured support from more than 64 per cent of Democratic delegates to become the party’s nominee for president in place of Biden, who threw his support behind her on Sunday moments after withdrawing from the 2024 race for the White House himself amid questions about his age and health.
So far, no major challengers have emerged against her while the party has raised a record-breaking $81m in the 24 hours since the president made his announcement.
President Biden will address the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening about how he plans to finish out his term.
George Clooney endorses Kamala Harris and praises Biden
“President Biden has shown what true leadership is. He’s saving democracy once again,” the Hollywood star said in a statement to CNN.
“We’re all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris in her historic quest.”
Joe Sommerlad has the story.
Oliver O’Connell23 July 2024 21:15
ICYMI: Kamala Harris clinches enough delegates to secure nomination
By Monday night, a little over 24 hours after she entered the race, Harris surpassed the 1,976 delegates needed for the nomination in a first round of voting among Democratic delegates, according to an Associated Press survey.
Oliver O’Connell23 July 2024 21:00
Full story: Kamala Harris links Trump to Project 2025 in debut presidential campaign rally
“Donald Trump wants to take our country backward,” she said in remarks from Milwaukee on Tuesday, just two days after President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and endorsed his vice president.
Harris, who secured enough delegate pledges to clinch the Democratic Party’s nomination within a little over 24 hours after announcing her candidacy, linked Trump to Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation-backed plan for his administration, and one that his campaign is now furiously trying to distance itself.
Oliver O’Connell23 July 2024 20:45
In pictures: Kamala Harris makes first presidential campaign speech at raucous Wisconsin rally
Oliver O’Connell23 July 2024 20:33
Harris narrows down VP shortlist as two candidates emerge as frontrunners
Both men are from key battleground states in the 2024 presidential race and have a history of defeating candidates endorsed by Donald Trump at the ballot box.
Mike Bedigan and Eric Garcia report.
Oliver O’Connell23 July 2024 20:08
Harris revs up crowd at first presidential campaign rally
Vice President Kamala Harris begins with comments on President Joe Biden: “Joe’s record of accomplishment over his entire career and over the past three and a half years is unmatched in modern history. In one term as president, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who served two terms.”
Later she told the crowd to wild cheers: “So Wisconsin, I am told as of this morning that we have earned the support of enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination.”
Harris then repeated her Trump attack line focused on her prosecutorial past: “I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.”
Oliver O’Connell23 July 2024 19:47
Kamala Harris takes the stage in Wisconsin
There is rapturous applause as Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for her first presidential campaign rally.
Harris was introduced by Leia Esser, a Madison public school administrator, who said thanks to the Biden-Harris administration: “I had almost all of my student loan debt forgiven.”
Oliver O’Connell23 July 2024 19:37
Watch LIVE: Kamala Harris makes debut on presidential campaign trail in Wisconsin
Oliver O’Connell23 July 2024 19:30