President Joe Biden’s decision on Sunday to drop out of the presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor has reset the campaign, according to the Associated Press, with the election likely forcing former President Donald Trump to contend with the much younger Harris, who has been consolidating support among Democrats and would be the first woman of color atop a major party’s ticket.
Although no one has stepped forward to challenge Harris for the Democratic nomination, she still faces the unprecedented challenge of taking over a campaign only four weeks before the party gathers in Chicago for its convention. At the same time, Trump must pivot his focus to Harris after designing his campaign for a rematch with Biden.
Trump, who is 78, will almost certainly be the oldest candidate on the ballot after spending months battering Biden over his age. Harris is only 59, giving her a claim to representing generational change that Biden could never fulfill.
In addition, Harris is a former prosecutor, providing a fresh opportunity to assail Trump’s status as a convicted felon after being found guilty in a hush money trial earlier this year.
She is also the daughter of immigrants, raised by a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, a background that heightens the contrast with Trump, who has used racist, sexist, and nativist rhetoric.
Immigration will remain a key line of attack against Democrats, especially because Harris was tasked by Biden to work on migration issues early in the administration.
