After US President Joe Biden announced his decision not to seek re-election, the Democratic Party is scrambling to consolidate behind his likely successor, Kamala Harris. While Harris is favored to secure the nomination, she faces rivals within her party as Democrats seek to avoid the appearance of a coronation.
Republicans, on the other hand, quickly pivoted to attack Harris and are grappling with their own challenges. The immediate task for Democrats is to navigate the succession process, including the transfer of funding and delegates earmarked for Biden over to Harris or another candidate.
This situation is unprecedented as no sitting US president has dropped out of a race this late in the election cycle. The selection process for the Democratic nominee may involve a convention, which could become messy if heated competition breaks out.
If Harris becomes president, it is expected that she will maintain Biden's foreign policies, including tough talk and action toward China. However, she will need to overcome her reputation as a loyal but unexceptional vice-president and distinguish herself from Democratic rivals.
Overall, the US election campaign is entering a new phase, with Harris now at the center of attention and both parties facing challenges in the race for the White House.
