Harris' entry not only upends the age issue, but pits Trump — a convicted felon who also pleaded guilty to sexual assault — against a woman and a former prosecutor.
US Vice President Kamala Harris launched her campaign with a scathing personal attack on Donald Trump and vowed to win in November despite the "horror train" of President Joe Biden's shock exit.
As he approaches the Democratic nomination with the support of a number of influential figures and huge donations from voters, Harris lashed out at Trump in his first speech to campaign workers since Biden's announcement.
Meanwhile, Biden, 81, made his first public statements in nearly a week as he recovers from Covid.
He called a campaign meeting to say the withdrawal - after growing party and voter concerns about his health and mental acuity - was "the right thing to do", and praised Harris as "the best".
"We're going to win in November," a smiling Harris told campaign staff in a fiery speech at campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.
She said she went to the Wilmington office to address them in person after the "horror train" of the past few days.
Turning her fire on Trump, Harris referred to her previous role as California attorney general, saying she "took on criminals of all kinds."
“Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who have ripped off users. Cheaters who have broken the rules for their own gain. So hear me out when I say I know Donald Trump's type,” she said to applause.
Harris also vowed to focus on the politically explosive issue of abortion after Trump praised a 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn a longstanding federal right to the procedure.
Biden backed out and endorsed Harris after three weeks of mounting pressure brought on by a disastrous performance in the debates against Trump.
Seeking to become the first female president in US history, Harris, 59, has won the support of a seemingly unassailable number of Democrats, most notably the influential former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
Pelosi's was her most serious yet, as the powerful 84-year-old said she supported Harris "with immense pride and boundless optimism."
Donors also rallied, pouring a record $81 million into Harris' campaign within 24 hours of Biden's withdrawal.
The campaign says the $81 million raised since Sunday is the largest single-day haul in presidential election history — and that among the 888,000 donors, about 60 per cent have made their first contribution in 2024.
In his comments, Biden's voice sounded hoarse as he explained his decision to withdraw from the race and promised that he would continue to work on key issues, including ending the war in Gaza.
Turning to Harris, he added, “I'm watching you, kid. I love you."
In a strikingly symbolic moment, Harris hosted a ceremony for college athletes at the White House while Biden remained stuck in isolation with Covid at his Delaware beach house. "The legacy Joe Biden has accomplished over the last three years is unparalleled in modern history," Harris said in brief remarks on the South Lawn of the White House as a light rain fell.
Biden's stunning withdrawal completely upended the 2024 race, turning a long runoff between two unpopular senior men into one of the most fascinating in modern US history.
The move shook up the demoralized party that Harris can now unite and could give America its first female president.
It also hit Republicans hard, with 78-year-old former President Trump - now the oldest presidential candidate in US history - having to completely overhaul his strategy, which was built on attacking Biden because of his age and physical frailty.
Harris' entry not only upends the age issue, but pits Trump — a convicted felon who also pleaded guilty to sexual assault — against a woman and a former prosecutor.
And Trump is clearly having a hard time breaking away from Biden.
After Biden stepped down, he launched a series of insult-filled social media posts mocking the president's age and saying he and Harris were a "threat to democracy."
Trump running mate JD Vance echoed that line of attack at a rally in Ohio, telling supporters that Harris gained momentum because "elite Democrats got together in a smoky room and decided to throw Joe Biden overboard."
"That's not the way it works. This is a threat to democracy," he said. | BGNES
