The 100-day sprint to the US election has begun - the final stage of a campaign marked by Donald Trump's assassination attempt and President Joe Biden's stunning withdrawal.
After weeks of struggles and despair over Biden's candidacy, Democrats consolidated behind Vice President Kamala Harris, radically changing the race to November 5.
Harris's candidacy is evident of her party's campaign, which has reportedly raised $200 million - mostly from donors appearing for the first time - since Biden dropped out and endorsed his vice president a week ago, AFP reports.
A new Wall Street Journal poll showed that Harris has cut Biden's previous lead over Trump to six points - within the margin of error. Support for Democrats is increasing among blacks, Latinos and young voters.
Republican pollster David Lee, who conducted the survey, warned Democrats not to get carried away by the tightening race.
"Donald Trump is in a much better position in this election compared to a similar point in the 2020 election," Lee said.
If the race is deadlocked nationally, the advantage is still on Trump's side, given the math of the Electoral College's system for choosing a president.
Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016 came despite losing the popular vote nationwide by nearly three million ballots.
"We are the underdogs"
"We're the underdogs in this race," Harris admitted at a July 27 fundraiser.
"But this is a people-driven campaign, and we have momentum," she added.
Former Vice President Al Gore joined a group of high-profile Democrats who endorsed Harris, highlighting her environmental experience.
The Democratic Party convention in mid-August will seek to keep that momentum going with a celebratory announcement of Harris' candidacy.
It all seemed very different just a month ago.
Troubled by voter concerns about his age and mental acuity, the 81-year-old Biden was at best out of the game and trailing his predecessor in the first presidential runoff since Dwight D. Eisenhower defeated Adlai Stevenson in 1956.
Biden's unconvincing performance in the June 27 debate against Trump brought anxiety and panic to his party.
The flames were fanned by the flawless display of unity behind the 78-year-old Trump at the Republican National Convention, an event that was inspired by the failed assassination attempt just days earlier at a rally in Pennsylvania.
After an initial show of defiance, Biden bowed to inescapable reality and dropped out of the race a week ago.
Harris, who is a generation younger at 59, put down the gloves - turning the race between two unpopular, aging white candidates into a dynamic and unpredictable clash.
The final outcome on Nov. 5 is likely to be determined by about 100,000 independent, caucus-goers in several "swing states" where the battles are being fought. That is where the two campaigns will focus their efforts over the next three months.
Harris' honeymoon
The challenge facing Harris is significant. Once Republicans adapt to her candidacy and hone their strategy, they will attack her on key issues for voters, such as immigration and price hikes.
Democratic strategist James Carville warned that Democrats should stop the happy talk and prepare for the coming storm.
"They are attacking us and will continue to attack us. And that kind of giddy elation won't help us for long," he said.
Even former President Barack Obama warned Democrats not to fool themselves, emphasizing Harris's outsider status and the need for her to win voters' trust.
Trump, whose ratings have been soaring since the July 13 assassination attempt and the successful Republican convention, has made clear his campaign priorities in Minnesota, a state Democrats traditionally win.
Calling Harris a "radical crazy liberal," Trump portrayed her as an abortion extremist. | BGNES
