When President Biden made the surprising announcement of dropping out of the presidential race just over a week ago and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, a wave of enthusiasm swept through the Democratic base. The party quickly united behind Ms. Harris, leading to a surge in positive momentum with notable achievements including $200 million in contributions, a range of promising vice-presidential candidates, and an uptick in polling numbers.
However, the road ahead for Ms. Harris presents new challenges as she navigates through the coming weeks. As the initial excitement begins to wane, she will need to work on sustaining the energy amidst escalating attacks from former President Donald J. Trump and his campaign.
This week marks significant milestones for Ms. Harris. Democratic delegates are set to virtually nominate her as early as Thursday, according to the Democratic National Committee’s schedule. Additionally, the speculation surrounding her choice of running mate will intensify as she approaches the August 7 deadline she has set. Eric H. Holder Jr., the former attorney general, and his law firm, Covington & Burling, have been tasked with vetting potential candidates.
Steve Sisolak, the former Democratic governor of Nevada, emphasized the importance of maintaining the current momentum, describing it as a “honeymoon phase.” He noted the need to sustain the energy that has been ignited and acknowledged the upcoming challenge for everyone involved in the campaign.
