Sen. Coons calls on other Democrats to support Vice President Harris as new nominee
DELAWARE – With the news of President Joe Biden dropping out of the race for the Oval Office, Democrats are rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris as the potential new nominee.
“Sign of strength”
Delaware Senator Chris Coons, who was the co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign, is endorsing the Vice President, and urging others to do so, as well.
“I think choosing to step aside at this moment, in this campaign, is a sign of strength,” Sen. Coons told reporters in a press call Monday morning. “It’s a sign of his affection for our nation, and his determination to make sure that a candidate who is most likely to win is on the ballot this November.”
DNC Dash
This comes as the Democratic National Convention (DNC) rapidly approaches.
Between August 19th and 22nd, more than 4,600 delegates will meet in Chicago, Ill. Typically, the presidential nominee is chosen through primary elections, and the running mate is announced at the DNC. However, when and how the running mate will be chosen and announced remains uncertain, says Sen. Coons.
“It is entirely possible that, by then, there will have been a nominating process by the DNC that produces Vice President Harris as the presidential nominee, that is then ratified by the delegates to the convention,” Sen. Coons said.
Calling on Colleagues
In the meantime, Sen. Coons says he is reaching out to his colleagues in both the House and Senate. His message: rallying everyone around nominated Vice President Harris as former President Donald Trump’s oponent come November.
Sen. Coons added that he plans to speak with Vice President Harris. He also hopes to see her and former President Trump face off on the debate stage.
“I do think that bringing Democrats together is going to be easy, because there is unanimity about the threat that Donald Trump and [running mate] JD Vance pose,” Sen. Coons said. “Nothing will give us a more refined, focused, precise view of [Vice President Harris and former President Trump], and their styles and their values as a candidate debate.”
Arranging Assets
As for the campaign funds already raised by President Biden, or already-paid-for advertisements, and what will happen to them: Sen. Coons predicts that money and materials will be transferrable to Vice President Harris’ campaign, as she was already a part of President Biden’s campaign.
“There are a variety of assets of Biden-Harris that Harris, as candidate for president, I believe, is able to take over promptly,” Sen. Coons said. “It is my hope and expectation that she will retain the more than thousand current Biden-Harris campaign employees.”
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Sen. Coons said he hopes that President Biden’s legacy is appreciated by Democrat voters who now face a new choice for candidate.
“It is my hope that my colleagues, and others around the country, will give him the accolades he deserves as the most consequential president of my lifetime,” Sen. Coon said.
President Biden is expected to address the nation later this week about his legacy, decision to drop out of the presidential rcae, and the path forward.
