US presidential election: Kamala Harris secures enough delegates to become Democratic nominee

United States (US) Vice President Kamala Harris has secured support from a majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention, likely ensuring she would become the party's nominee for president in August, American media reported on Tuesday (July 23).

A survey by the news agency Associated Press showed that Harris had the support of 2,538 delegates which is well beyondthe 1,976 needed to win the delegate's vote in the coming weeks.

On Monday,Democratic National Committee Chairman JaimeHarrison said that the party would delivera presidential nominee by August 7. Delegates can still change their minds before August 7.

A debut campaign speech

On Sunday, President Joe Biden decided to step down from the White House race,throwing his support behind Harris. In her first public appearance since the announcement, Harrisrallied supporters on Monday with a debut campaign speech vowing to go after Republican nominee Donald Trump.

A former courtroom prosecutor, Harris said, "I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain."

"So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump's type. In this campaign, I will proudly, I will proudly put my record against his," she added.

Harris also outlined a series of policies she promised to pursue including signing laws to protect abortion rights and ban assault rifles and said she would make rebuilding the middle class the focus of her presidency.

Harris campaign raises $81 mn

Harris' campaign said it raised $81 million in the 24 hours following Biden's exit, the most for a single day in the 2024 campaign for either party. On Tuesday, the vice president would travel toMilwaukee, which last week saw the Republican National Convention that offered a stark display of Trump's dominance over his party.

(With inputs from agencies)