Harris tipped as Biden running mate
Joe Biden’s presidential campaign was boosted yesterday by an endorsement from Kamala Harris, the former candidate now considered a potential runningmate if he wins the nomination.
The 55-year-old California senator is the latest in a line of former rivals to swing behind Biden including Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, Michael Bloomberg and Beto O’Rourke.
The Biden campaign has begun to deploy some of the US$22 million (NZ$35m) that has poured in from donors since he won the South Carolina primary, spending US$12 million on Sunday on advertising in states that will hold votes this month.
Harris, the only black woman in the race before she pulled out in December, attacked Biden in the first Democratic TV debate last June over his record on civil rights. She was full of praise yesterday, however, after Biden’s victory in ten of the 14 states contested on Super Tuesday, including a sweep of the southern states with large African-American electorates.
‘‘When I started my run for president, I said America needs a president who reflects the decency and dignity of the American people, a president who fights for those whose voices are too often overlooked or ignored,’’ she said in a video statement posted on Twitter. ‘‘I still believe that to this day. That is why I am proud to announce I am endorsing my friend, vice-president Joe Biden, for president of the United States.’’
She said she got to know Biden through his late son, Beau, when they joined forces while he was attorney-general of Delaware to help homeowners to challenge banks.
‘‘We have got to unify the country and we need somebody who has the ability to bring our country together,’’ she said.
Her support brings the number of Democratic senators backing Biden to 12 compared with one for Bernie Sanders; his Vermont colleague Patrick Leahy.
Biden, 77, told worshippers at New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, yesterday morning that America was at an ‘‘inflection point’’ similar to the civil rights campaign for equality for black Americans 50 years ago. ‘‘You’re the reason I’m back.
Nobody else. You’re the reason,’’ Biden added.
Mississippi is one of six states voting in a mini Super Tuesday tomorrow.
‘‘This isn’t just an election, this is a battle for the soul of America,’’ Biden said to applause, after being introduced as ‘‘the comeback kid’’ by Bennie Thompson, a black Mississippi congressman.
Jerry Young, the New Hope pastor, said: ‘‘They said Joe Biden is dead.
‘‘Don’t you know this? That we are the Easter people?’’
Biden told a fundraising event he was worried that his battle with Sanders could turn nasty. ‘‘What we can’t let happen is let this primary become a negative bloodbath. We can’t tear this party apart and re-elect Trump. We have to keep our eyes on the ball,’’ Biden said by telephone to a gathering in Maryland on Sunday. – The Times