Biden is Out and Harris is In - Here is the Latest News

To say that Sunday will go down as one of the most historic days in U.S. political history is an understatement.

After weeks of speculation and rumors, U.S. President Joe Biden pulled out of the 2024 presidential race and formally endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place as the Democratic nominee.

Here is a look at the pivotal day as well as what comes next.

Biden Steps Out of Race and Endorses Harris as Democratic Nominee

U.S. President Joe Biden stepped out of the race for the White House, ending his re-election campaign on Sunday afternoon. In a statement posted to X, the president said that he would finish his current term but that he is not running for re-election.

The president also officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take over his spot as the Democratic Party nominee to face former President Donald Trump.

Biden also said that he plans to address the nation later this week. He is currently self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware after testing positive for COVID-19 last Wednesday while campaigning in Las Vegas.

The vice president responded to Biden's endorsement by saying that he was honored for the nod and that she will "earn and win" the nomination.

Harris could make history should she indeed appear at the top of the ticket. In doing so, she would become both the first Black female and the first Asian American to be at the top of the ticket for a major political party in the country.

It should be noted that while Biden endorsed Harris to take his spot as the Democratic nominee, it still remains unclear as to the exact process behind this nomination process.

It did not take long for the Democrats to coalesce around Harris as the nominee. A large number of Democratic leaders immediately stated their support for the vice president.

The growing list of those supporting the Harris nomination includes California Sen. Alex Padilla, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Harris spent the day Sunday huddled around those closest to her while making phone calls to supporters in an effort to shore up funding for the campaign.

The vice president made her first public appearance since the announcement on Monday, speaking at an event honoring NCAA student-athletes at the South Lawn of the White House. She is scheduled to travel to Wilmington, Delaware on Monday afternoon to greet her new campaign staff.

The Secret Service said that it has increased the security detail around Harris in the hours since Biden dropped out of the race. The adjustments to security were confirmed by agency director Kimberly Cheatle on Monday.

Cheatle spent a large part of the day testifying in front of the House Oversight Committee about the security in place during the assassination attempt of Trump last week.

Financial Consequences of Biden Leaving the Race

One of the biggest question marks surrounding Biden's departure is what will happen to all of the money raised by various groups backing the Democratic Party.

The Biden-Harris campaign took the first step in addressing this issue on Sunday by officially amending the filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), moving to rename the committee and assign Harris as its presidential candidate.

This filing gives Harris full access to the campaign funds that have been raised thus far in the campaign.

On an immediate basis, cash has been pouring into the Democrat Party budget since Biden's announcement. ActBlue announced on Sunday that its grassroots supporters had raised a substantial $46.6 million as of 9 pm ET, marking the largest fundraising day of this campaign cycle.

Harris supporters said that this fundraising capability is a testament to the renewed energy within the party and its voters. The money continued to flow in on Monday as Democratic donors mobilized.

Trump Team Reaction to Biden's Decision

Former President Donald Trump and his campaign team went on the offensive immediately after Biden made the announcement that changed the political landscape in a seismic way. Trump's campaign put out a statement trying to align Harris directly with the policies put in place by the Biden team over the last four years.

One of Trump's most significant super PAC supporters booked airtime in battleground states attempting to set up Harris as an enabler of Biden. One new ad is painting Harris as being intentional about covering up Biden's declining cognitive abilities.

The former president went on social media and suggested that the upcoming presidential debate be moderated by Fox News. This debate is currently scheduled for Tuesday, September 10 under the direction of ABC News.

Breaking Down the Potential Vice President Candidates

Assuming that Harris is indeed the Democratic nominee, she will need to choose a running mate to join her on the ticket. A number of names have emerged as the leading contenders to be tapped as the vice presidential nominee.

Presidential candidates typically look for running mates that bring something different to the table when compared to what they are able to offer the electorate.

One of the top names to emerge right away in the discussion is Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. This governor is well-liked in the Commonwealth, consistently receiving favorable ratings. More importantly, he governs a battleground state that is considered to be key to winning the election.

Along that same note of choosing a candidate that could deliver a swing state, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly is also a strong contender for the nod.

Not only does he represent a battleground state but he is also a former astronaut and U.S. Navy captain, presenting a masculine foil to Harris. Kelly is the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, a retired politician and current gun control activist.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has also gained traction as a potential nominee. Beshear is a wildly popular moderate Democrat that won his seat twice in the governor's mansion in a deeply red state, pointing to his ability to serve as a unifier.

Beshear appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Monday, going on the attack against GOP Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance.

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