Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, newly appointed running mate for former President Donald Trump, will begin his campaign on Monday as Vice President Harris' team scrambles to solidify Democratic support a day after President Biden dropped out of the race.
Trump picked Vance as his running mate a week ago, shortly after surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Vance is scheduled to hold a rally in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, on Monday afternoon, followed by another rally later that evening in Radford, Virginia.
Harris spoke at the White House on Monday morning, her first since Biden announced he would not seek reelection, at an event honoring NCAA college athletes.
“Our president, Joe Biden, wanted to be here today. He's feeling much better, he's recovering quickly, and he's looking forward to getting going again,” Harris said at the start of her speech. “And I want to say a few words about our president. Joe Biden's accomplishments over the last three years are unparalleled in modern history.”
Biden has not been seen since his shock 2024 announcement amid ongoing coronavirus quarantine
Harris, who said she first got to know Biden through his late son Beau, praised the president's “honesty, integrity, devotion to faith and family, big heart and love, and deep love for country.” She said she was “a firsthand witness to President Joe Biden fighting for the American people every day, and we are deeply grateful for his service to our nation.”
Republican vice presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance speaks at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on July 20, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Biden, who was self-isolating in Rehoboth, Delaware, after testing positive for COVID-19 last week, made the shock announcement on Sunday that he would not seek reelection. In a letter shared online, Biden endorsed Harris as the Democratic candidate and said he would focus on his duties for the remainder of his term. He has yet to make a public appearance since the announcement.
Reuters reported that campaign officials have already made hundreds of calls on Harris' behalf, urging delegates to nominate her as the Democratic presidential candidate at next month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Former President Trump and Senator J.D. Vance attend the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who was once seen as a potential rival to Biden, said she endorsed Harris in a post on X on Monday. Another Democrat, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, also said he would support Harris for president during an appearance on MSNBC's “Morning Joe” and has expressed interest in potentially joining her candidacy as a running mate.
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Harris released a statement on Sunday after Biden left office.
“My intention is to seek and win this nomination,” Harris said. “I'm going to do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party, and unite the country, and defeat Donald Trump.”
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on the South Lawn of the White House during an event with NCAA college athletes, Monday, July 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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The Trump campaign had been preparing for Harris to run for weeks, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, after calls from Democratic lawmakers and donors grew for Biden to step aside after he stumbled and faltered during last month's debate in Atlanta.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Send your story tips to danielle.wallace@fox.com or on Twitter: @danimwallace.