Kamala Harris says ‘my intention is to earn and win this nomination’ after Joe Biden endorses her for 2024 race – live | Joe Biden

British prime minister Keir Starmer noted his “respect” for Joe Biden’s decision to exit the presidential race, in a brief post on Twitter/X:

Joe Biden has become the first president in 56 years to call off his campaign for re-election, brought down by a disastrous performance in his late June debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump that caused a marked decline in his public support, and sparked a pressure campaign by his fellow Democrats to convince him to bow out. The president announced his decision on Twitter/X, as well as his support for Kamala Harris to take his place. The vice-president replied that “my intention is to earn and win this nomination”, while Democratic chair Jaime Harrison said “the party will undertake a transparent and orderly process” to find a new candidate.

Here are some of the of major developments in this breaking story:

• Barack Obama called Biden “one of America’s most consequential presidents”, but did not endorse Harris and seemed to indicate he wanted an open nomination process at the Democratic national convention next month, in Chicago.

• Hillary and Bill Clinton quickly threw their support behind Harris.

• Democratic former House speaker Nancy Pelosi was a major figure in pressuring Biden to end his re-election bid, and spoke glowingly of him after he left the race.

• Donald Trump heaped scorn on Biden, saying he “was not fit to run for president, and is certainly not fit to serve”.

• Top Republicans in Congress, including speaker Mike Johnson and other senior House lawmakers, called on Biden to resign immediately. Notably, Mitch McConnell, the GOP’s Senate minority leader, did not.

Jim Clyburn is one of the House Democrats closest to Joe Biden, having played a big role in getting him the party’s nomination in 2020, and publicly defending him following his fumbling debate performance in June.

In a new statement, Clyburn threw his support behind Kamala Harris to succeed Biden:

Politicians across the world have voiced support for Joe Biden following his announcement that he will suspend his presidential campaign.

Simon Harris, Taoiseach of Ireland, was among the foreign leaders reacting to Biden’s decision with praise.

“President Biden has been a voice for reason, effective multilateralism and shared solutions,” Harris said in a statement. He said that Biden and the US saw “early on” that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “an attack on international law and democratic freedom” and that the aggressor would not stop with its neighbor.

Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, said that he wanted to extend his “heartfelt thanks” to Biden for “his friendship and steadfast support for the Israeli people over his decades-long career” and noted that he was the first US president to visit the country in wartime.

“He is a symbol of the unbreakable bond between our two peoples,” Herzog said.

Rachel Leingang

Anti-war voters who aligned behind an “uncommitted” movement to protest Biden’s stance on the Gaza war want to see Kamala Harris “take a clear stance” against US weapons being sent to Israel.

The uncommitted movement won 29 delegates to the Democratic convention and plans to use these delegates to push an anti-war message, though with Biden out, all his delegates become uncommitted as well. After Biden’s debate performance, some looked to see how the uncommitted movement could pick up more influence in the convention, though leaders said they would remain focused solely on the anti-war message.

If Harris ends up the Democratic nominee, leaders of the national uncommitted movement say she needs to stand against any funding of Israel in the war.

“It’s time to align our actions with our values,” uncommitted national leader Layla Elabed said in a statement. “Vice-President Harris can start the process to earn back trust by turning the page from Biden’s horrific policies in Gaza.”

Kamala Harris says she will seek the Democratic presidential nomination after Joe Biden endorsed her as his successor following his decision to suspend his re-election campaign.

From a just-released statement:

I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation – to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.

We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.

In a statement, Barack Obama, under whom Joe Biden served as vice-president, praised his decision to exit the presidential race, without endorsing his successor.

“Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me. Today, we’ve also been reminded — again — that he’s a patriot of the highest order,” Obama said.

The former president was reportedly among those who did not believe Biden could win a second term in office following his botched first debate against Donald Trump. While Obama does not comment on that in his statement, he does talk at length about Biden’s decision to suspend his campaign:

This outstanding track record gave President Biden every right to run for re-election and finish the job he started. Joe understands better than anyone the stakes in this election — how everything he has fought for throughout his life, and everything that the Democratic Party stands for, will be at risk if we allow Donald Trump back in the White House and give Republicans control of Congress.

I also know Joe has never backed down from a fight. For him to look at the political landscape and decide that he should pass the torch to a new nominee is surely one of the toughest in his life. But I know he wouldn’t make this decision unless he believed it was right for America. It’s a testament to Joe Biden’s love of country — and a historic example of a genuine public servant once again putting the interests of the American people ahead of his own that future generations of leaders will do well to follow.

Finally, Obama hints that he would like there to be an open nomination process at the Democratic convention scheduled to be held in Chicago in August:

We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead. But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges. I believe that Joe Biden’s vision of a generous, prosperous, and united America that provides opportunity for everyone will be on full display at the Democratic Convention in August. And I expect that every single one of us are prepared to carry that message of hope and progress forward into November and beyond.

In the two hours since Joe Biden suspended his re-election campaign, Democratic senators have been particularly quick to endorse Kamala Harris as his successor.

Here’s Massachusetts’ Elizabeth Warren, a progressive who squared off against both Biden and Harris in the primaries leading up to the 2020 election:

And Virginia’s Mark Warner:

President Biden has made historic contributions to our nation. His love of country and loyalty to the American people has been unwavering. He will undoubtedly go down in the history books as a true American patriot.

After all he’s done, I respect President Biden’s difficult decision to step aside in this upcoming election, and I look forward to hearing more from him later this week.

While there has to be an orderly process and the decision ultimately rests in the hands of the DNC delegates, I believe Vice President Harris has the experience, energy, and resolve to lead our nation.

This November, we must defeat Donald Trump and his backwards agenda.

As well as Tammy Baldwin, who represents swing state Wisconsin, and is a top target of Republicans in November:

Today I’m proud to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States. I look forward to her candidacy as a new beginning for our party and our country and I am excited to work with her to lower costs for Wisconsin families, grow our Made in America economy, and restore our fundamental rights and freedoms.