NEW ORLEANS — Democratic party leaders spent the day consolidating support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Sunday, Joe Biden bowed out of the presidential race and backed his VP as the party nominee.
Speaking at an event on the South Lawn of the White House, Harris said, “we are deeply grateful for President Joe Biden’s service to our nation.”
She noted his big heart, love of the United States, and love for his family.
“I am firsthand witness that every day our president, Joe Biden, fights for the American people,” Harris said.
Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu was co-chair of the Biden campaign.
He said Harris, a former prosecutor and California Attorney General, can “absolutely beat the republican nominee Donald Trump.”
“She’s not only highly qualified for the job and ready to be the president on day one, she also is particularly equipped to deal with a guy who has 34 felonies conviction and also has been declared a sexual abuser.”
Another former mayor of New Orleans, National Urban League President Marc Morial said Harris’s presence changes the dynamics of the presidential race.
“Now it’s an election between a Gen Xer, someone in their 50s versus someone who is nearly 80, who represents what I think are the politics of the past,” Landrieu said. “It’s going to be an interesting and exciting election.”
Tulane University Political Scientist Brandon Davis says while Biden is dropping out of the race, age remains a concern.
“If it appears what’s going to happen with Kamala Harris becoming the nominee then the roles are kind of switched as you had Biden as the oldest nominee in history, Trump becomes the oldest in history,” Davis said.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday said he didn't think the dynamics of the 2024 race changed after President Biden dropped out of the race.
But Johnson suggested that changing the nominee could "violate the rules" in some states, and he said he expects there will be "litigation."
Dr. Davis doesn’t think the lawsuits have much merit.
“Each party gets to pick its candidates,” Davis said. “They have their own processes of how that occurs. The democratic party will adhere to its constitutional processes when it comes to selecting their new candidate for the top of the ticket.”
Morial said for the democrats, it is all about unity and building a coalition to compete in the general election.
“She’s got to earn the delegates,” Morial said. “She’s got to earn votes, she’s got to get out there and campaign strong and tough. She’s up against a tough opponent whose now in his third race for President of the United States.”
Landrieu added that Harris has a great story to tell.
“The vice president is going to be the Democratic nominee, which I’m thrilled with. She’s been a great friend of Louisiana, a great friend of New Orleans. She’s got a great chance to win.”
Landrieu said he expects to stay on as co-chair of the Harris for President campaign.
On Sunday, Donald Trump told CNN that Kamala Harris would be easier to beat than Joe Biden.
He told CBS News, "I think she is no better than him. She could be far less competent, which is hard to believe."
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