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[Global Times Special Correspondent in the United States Li Jun, Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Yi] US Vice President Harris issued a statement on the 22nd saying that she has received enough support to become the Democratic presidential candidate. The New York Times said that Harris' team announced that within 24 hours of Biden's withdrawal from the election, she raised $81 million, breaking the single-day fundraising record for candidates in this campaign. "The Democratic Party welcomed Harris' presidential candidacy with one of the largest cash influxes in history." On the same day, Harris rushed to Biden's campaign headquarters in Delaware and took over Biden's campaign team. She gave a speech there and fiercely criticized Republican presidential candidate Trump. However, the report also mentioned that even if Harris was nominated, it would not be easy to defeat Trump, and most American voters have long had a bad impression of her. So far this year, she has lagged behind Trump in almost all national and key state polls. Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao published an article on the 23rd saying that Harris's takeover will reshape the pattern and focus of the US presidential election, while creating more uncertainty. In addition to the Democratic Party having to re-position, the Republican Party must also adjust its strategy because the 78-year-old Trump now has to face younger opponents.

On July 22, 2024, local time, in Delaware, U.S., U.S. Vice President Harris delivered a speech at the campaign headquarters in Wilmington. (Visual China)

24 hours, $81 million

Under strong pressure from within the Democratic Party, Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 US presidential election in a statement on the afternoon of July 21 local time, and expressed his support for Harris to take over the Democratic Party nomination and run for president. The New York Times said that a few minutes later, the Democratic Party fundraising platform ActBlue ushered in a wave of donations. As of 10 p.m. on the 21st, the platform had raised about 50 million U.S. dollars and exceeded 81 million U.S. dollars within 24 hours, setting a record for this campaign, which shows the unprecedented enthusiasm of Democratic supporters. Harris's campaign team emphasized that these donations included 888,000 grassroots donations, 60% of which were the first donations in this year's election. According to CNN, a campaign official said that Harris raised more than 100 million U.S. dollars from the 21st to the evening of the 22nd, including more than 1.1 million independent donors, 62% of whom were first-time donors.

According to AFP, the formal nomination process for the presidential candidates of various parties in the United States is that representatives from all over the country gather together to formally nominate the candidates selected by voters during the primary election. Biden's announcement of withdrawal from the election and support for Harris, coupled with the support of many Democratic heavyweights and a large number of voter donations, made Harris quickly "crowned". She issued a statement on the evening of the 22nd, saying: "Tonight, I am proud to have received the broad support needed to become the candidate of our party." According to statistics from the Associated Press, Harris has won the support of 2,668 Democratic representatives, far exceeding the threshold of 1,976 votes.

The Wall Street Journal published an editorial on the 23rd saying that in less than a day, the Democratic Party united to support Harris as the presidential candidate to succeed Biden, and seemed very anxious. "It is impossible for them to have no doubts about Harris' ability as a candidate." But some of Harris' potential competitors in the Democratic Party also do not want to be blamed for possibly preventing her from becoming the first African-American female president. If she loses to Trump, they will be blamed. If she runs and fails without a challenge, others can run in 2028 without alienating the majority in the Democratic Party.

According to AFP, on the 23rd, Hollywood star George Clooney announced his support for Harris and welcomed Biden's withdrawal. Clooney has attended Biden's campaign fundraisers many times and was one of the first well-known Democratic activists to urge Biden to withdraw from the election. He said in a statement: "President Biden has demonstrated true leadership and he has once again saved democracy. We are all very happy and willing to do everything we can to support Vice President Harris' historic exploration."

Abortion rights at the heart of showdown

On the 22nd, Harris rushed to Biden's campaign headquarters in Delaware and took over Biden's campaign team. This is Biden's hometown. CNN said that Harris gave an exciting speech there. She admitted that the team had experienced a "roller coaster" of changes in the past few weeks, but she was confident in the prospects of the campaign. She talked about her past experience as Attorney General of California, comparing Trump to a "predator" and a "liar", saying, "In those positions, I have dealt with all kinds of criminals: perverts who abuse women, fraudsters who deceive consumers, and liars who break the rules for their own selfish interests."

According to AFP, Harris also promised on the 22nd that abortion rights are the focus of her campaign, and she will make the fight for abortion rights a core part of her showdown with Trump. "We will fight for reproductive freedom, and we know that if Trump has the opportunity, he will sign an abortion ban that prohibits abortion in every state," Harris said.

The Wall Street Journal said that the Trump campaign said they would not only attack Harris' performance as vice president, but also her record in California politics, including her performance as state attorney general. ABC said that Trump and his allies have escalated their attacks on Harris, accusing her of covering up Biden's true health condition. The Trump campaign has released new social media ads attacking Harris' gaffes and describing her as a "much more radical" candidate. A source said: "We are going to expand the scope, there will be huge chaos within the Democratic Party, and our job now is to seize this."

"Former President Obama Remains Silent"

"Trump's previous attacks on Biden may backfire on him," AFP reported on the 23rd. Trump had previously attacked Biden's age and health, but after Biden announced that he would not run for re-election, the 78-year-old Trump may find that the same attacks backfired on him. Harris is 59 years old, compared to Trump, who is much older, and may face closer attention. American University political scientist Foster told AFP: "The whole situation has changed dramatically."

CNN believes that Harris' campaign has made a "dream start" and has gained enough support from the party within a few hours, but her future tasks are still arduous and signs of danger still exist. According to the report, there is an old saying in Washington that a presidential candidate's days are never better than the days after he announces his candidacy. This adage usually applies to the exciting first few hours of primary campaigns.

According to PBS, winning the nomination is only Harris' first political task. She must also choose a running mate and, with just over 100 days until Election Day, use a large-scale political operation to boost her candidacy. It is worth noting that some people who are considered potential running mates for Harris, such as Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro and North Carolina Governor Cooper, quickly issued statements in support of her. But so far, former President Obama has remained silent.