Harris Praises Biden In First Comments Since President's Withdrawal

Vice President Kamala Harris has been speaking at a reception for NCAA athletes on the White House South Lawn. Following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the election race on 21 July and his subsequent endorsement of Harris for the Democratic nomination, all public comments from the veep will be pored over in the run up to November.

• Harris says that "Our President Joe Biden wanted to be here today. He's feeling much better and recovering fast and he looks forward to getting back on the road." Says that Biden's "...legacy of accomplishment over the past three years is unmatched in modern history. In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who have served two terms in office".
• Harris praises the president for his "honesty, his integrity, his big heart...and deep love of our country." Adds that Biden "fights for the American people and we are deeply deeply grateful for his service to our nation.”
• Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg posts on X suggesting a longer timeframe to select the Democratic nominee. Bloomberg: "Democrats now have a chance for a fresh new start, and while some elected leaders and party officials make their endorsements, there are still four weeks before the [DNC] .That is more than enough time for the party to take the pulse of voters, especially in battleground states, to determine who is best positioned to win in November [...]. We don’t need to get a resolution right away, but we do need to get it right. The decision is too important to rush..."