Philadelphia Politicians Endorse Kamala Harris

Top Philadelphia-area Democrats on Sunday endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential candidate and urged their colleagues to quickly do the same.

Party leaders and other allies of President Joe Biden announced their support for Harris shortly after Biden dropped his re-election bid and backed his running mate for the post, saying the party needed to quickly name a nominee with four months to go before Election Day.

State Sen. Sharif Street, chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, endorsed Harris and said he expected the state party to formally do so in the coming days, a sign that Harris already has significant support among Democrats in a key swing state.

“I have not heard a single delegate say they will not support Vice President Harris,” Street said.

Still, the fate of the Democratic nomination remained uncertain Sunday. While Biden’s endorsement carries enormous weight, it does not guarantee Harris’ nomination, and she could theoretically be challenged by other Democrats.

Some prominent Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and retired House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, issued statements Sunday praising Biden’s decision but not endorsing it. A faction of party activists has advocated for what are essentially miniature primaries in which multiple candidates would campaign for delegates who would vote for a candidate at a party convention next month.

Harris said in a statement that she intends to “earn and win this nomination.”

” READ MORE: Biden Withdrew from the Race. How Will Democrats Choose Their Nominee?

Elected Democrats in Pennsylvania have largely supported Biden in recent weeks, and the overwhelming response on Sunday was that they would now back Harris as the candidate to face former President Donald Trump in November.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat whose name has emerged as a potential presidential candidate, endorsed her on Sunday, as did U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Philadelphia Democratic Party Chairman Bob Brady, a former congressman.

U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, a Democrat who represents parts of Philadelphia and Delaware County, said in a statement that Harris is “uniquely qualified to continue the important work of this administration, restore the guardrails of our democratic republic and defeat Donald Trump — again.”

And state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Philadelphia Democrat who campaigned nationwide with Biden and heads a presidential advisory commission, said that while he was “heartbroken” that Biden had conceded, no Democrat should push for an open convention.

”[Biden]gave us marching orders to gather around her,” Kenyatta said. “And we’re going to gather around her.”

Harris’ candidacy ‘created enthusiasm and excitement’

Political strategists and observers have said Biden’s departure could give Democrats the opportunity to reset a presidential race that most polls had shown them losing — if they can choose a nominee soon. Republicans are largely united behind Trump, a point that was on display at last week’s Republican National Convention, where there was little disagreement.

“If [Democrats] can quickly consolidate around a candidate and kind of unify the party, it’s a complete reset of the race,” said Berwood Yost, director of the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin and Marshall College. “It’s still a risk. It’s a huge risk.”

” READ MORE: Read President Joe Biden’s full letter ending his re-election campaign

Gianni Hill, a Democratic consultant and party delegate from Philadelphia, said Harris could take over Biden’s campaign infrastructure and absorb his coalition, adding that it would be “political dishonesty” for the party to nominate anyone else to top the ticket.

In a phone interview Sunday, Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon told Biden staffers across the country that all staffers would keep their jobs and move to work for Harris’ campaign if she is nominated. The Biden campaign currently has more than 200 people working in Pennsylvania.

While some Democrats in the state called it a sad day for Biden, there was enthusiasm around Harris. Alan Kessler, a fundraiser for Biden in Philadelphia, said he was already fielding calls Sunday from people wanting to donate to help Harris win.

“The calls are exploding,” Kessler said. “It’s really brought enthusiasm and excitement. Everything had become so bleak. It’s an energy boost.”

Still, some delegates were undecided Sunday. Delaware County delegate TJ Deluca noted that DNC ​​rules require delegates to support the wishes of voters who elected them “in good faith.”

“That means I should personally take the time to listen to my constituents, albeit temporary, and do everything I can to listen to their thoughts and feelings and vote as a reflection of them,” DeLuca said, “because that’s how we maintain the democratic process.”

A historic candidacy, but with some weaknesses

Harris’ supporters noted the historic nature of her candidacy — she would be the first black woman nominated for president by a major political party — and that she could potentially become the first female president in American history.

Harris, the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, has credited her mother and generations of women before her throughout her time as vice president for paving the way for her historic career. She would be the first Asian-American female president and the first Black woman to hold the office if elected.

“Her candidacy is historic,” said U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat who represents parts of South Jersey and is the party’s candidate for U.S. Senate, “not only an opportunity to elect the first woman, the first AAPI president, and a Black woman, but also to continue the incredible progress we’ve started.”

He added: “The time to unite is now.”

Harris is widely seen as someone who could help Democrats win back parts of their coalition that have eroded recently, including young people and voters of color. She has also been the administration’s go-to person in attacking abortion bans across the country, which could be particularly motivating for female voters.

But Harris, who has faced sexist and racist attacks throughout her careerShe will now face a Republican Party that has prepared for the possibility that she will be the nominee. At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last week, speakers criticized her as a Biden defender to the detriment of the country and called her “Biden’s border czar,” blaming her for migrants crossing the border.

On Sunday, Republicans sharply criticized Biden’s decision.

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican who represents parts of central Pennsylvania and is a top Trump ally in the state, criticized Biden’s decision in a statement, calling it “undemocratic.”

He said the Democratic Party’s path forward comes down to “working behind closed doors without voter input.” Meuser voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election.

Democrats have also teased how they will present Harris as an alternative to Trump. U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, a Democrat who represents parts of Philadelphia, said he was “all in” with the vice president and that he looked forward to pitting Harris, a former state prosecutor and attorney general, against Trump, the first U.S. president to become a convicted felon.

“She’s going to blow Mr. Trump away as a prosecutor,” Brady added. “He’ll probably be too scared to debate her. I think she’ll do a great job, and we’ll be behind her wholeheartedly.”

Inquirer journalists Aliya Schneider, Fallon Roth, Gillian McGoldrick and Rob Tornoe contributed to this report.