A request for endorsement from Vice President Kamala Harris marked the final moments before President Joe Biden's historic departure from the 2024 presidential race.
According to The Hill, Harris urgently sought Biden's immediate endorsement during their conversation before his withdrawal announcement, recognizing the critical timing needed to prevent potential party disruption.
The high-stakes discussion between Biden and Harris occurred just hours before his public announcement to end his reelection campaign. Harris emphasized the significance of receiving his endorsement simultaneously with his withdrawal to maintain party unity and prevent any challenges to her candidacy.
Representative James Clyburn, a key Democratic figure from South Carolina, played a pivotal role in securing Biden's endorsement for Harris. He recognized the potential complications that could arise without an immediate endorsement from the president.
Some prominent Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and various major donors, reportedly had reservations about Harris's candidacy. They explored alternative options for the party's nomination, with Obama favoring a ticket led by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer alongside Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
According to authors Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen in their upcoming book "Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House," Harris expressed her concerns to Biden. She stated:
She knew that if Biden stepped aside without explicitly backing her, it would be taken as a statement that he lacked confidence in her ability to win or to do the job — or both. That could mean crib death for a battle that she had not yet begun to fight. She also knew that a failure to throw his weight behind her would suggest that he had made the wrong decision in choosing her as his number two in the first place.
The relationship between Obama and Harris became particularly tense during this period. A confidant cited in the book revealed Obama's skepticism about Harris's candidacy, leading to strategic discussions with other party leaders.
Clyburn anticipated potential resistance from Obama and moved quickly to secure his own endorsement of Harris. Their subsequent phone conversation lasted less than a minute, with Clyburn emphasizing the importance of party unity behind Harris.
Democratic officials had reportedly begun contingency planning for Biden's potential withdrawal as early as 2023. His team had implemented extensive measures to address concerns about his age and physical capabilities during his presidency.
The crucial timing of Biden's announcement and endorsement came together on July 21. He announced his withdrawal just before 2 p.m. EDT, following up with a public endorsement of Harris approximately 30 minutes later on social media.
Harris faced the challenge of maintaining loyalty to Biden while establishing her own campaign identity. The president's insistence on maintaining "no daylight" between their positions complicated her ability to differentiate herself.
Obama eventually endorsed Harris a few days after Biden's announcement, despite his initial reservations about her candidacy.
Vice President Kamala Harris's plea for President Biden's endorsement marked a pivotal moment in Democratic party politics as he withdrew from the 2024 presidential race. The carefully orchestrated timing of Biden's withdrawal and immediate endorsement of Harris aimed to prevent internal party conflicts and maintain unity. While some party leaders, including former President Obama, initially opposed Harris's candidacy, the swift succession plan helped minimize potential disruptions to the Democratic nomination process.
