Mia Boykin
Vice President Kamala Harris is at the forefront of this dramatic shift in the presidential election. She is set to make her first public appearance on Monday, July 22, 2024, at 11:30 AM EST for the annual “College Athlete Day” hosted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Given that this is her first speech since Biden’s enforcement, there’s anticipation that Harris could use this opportunity to set the tone for her presidential run.
Vice President Harris has emerged as the presumptive Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal. Biden, currently recovering from Covid in Delaware, endorsed Harris as his chosen successor on X, urging Democrats to unite against Donald Trump.
“College Athlete Day” celebrates athletes from NCAA championship teams, and provides Harris with a crucial platform to address the media and potentially make a significant statement about her campaign. The event was already in her schedule even before Biden dropped out of the race, bringing attention to an event that would have otherwise been mostly ignored.
The NCAA hosts this event at the White House annually to celebrate the championship collegiate teams nationwide. Harris spoke at the event last year, where she thanked the athletes for their hard work and the inspiration they give to children across the country. The NCAA hosts this The speech this time is expected to have a different tone, and include some information about her Presidential campaign.
This event will be closely watched, as overnight the Presidential election completely turned on its head. But, not without support.
The Democratic party has swiftly rallied behind Harris. Over 175 out of 286 congressional Democrats and Democratic governors have already endorsed her, with several states pledging more than 500 delegates for the party’s convention in Chicago this August. Notable potential challengers like Governors Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer, and Senator Joe Manchin, have opted out of the race, clearing Harris’s path to the nomination. Local government leaders, like Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington D.C. and Governor Wes Moore from Maryland, have also endorsed the vice president.
Harris’s campaign launch has been met with unprecedented financial support, particularly from Black women and grassroots supporters. In a single day, her campaign raised a record $50 million, with $46.7 million coming through ActBlue by 9 p.m. ET – the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle. This included $1 million raised in less than three hours by a group of Black women during a meeting that swelled to over 40,000 participants.
This strong financial backing has positioned Harris competitively against Donald Trump in early polls, with only a 1 to 1.5 percentage point difference, with Trump in the lead, according to the Washington Post.
The enthusiasm behind Harris’s campaign is driven by a sense of urgency among supporters who view this election as crucial for preserving voting rights, reproductive rights, and other human rights. Organizations like Higher Heights for America PAC emphasize Harris’s qualifications and the potential impact of her policies on reproductive rights, economic security, and social justice.
“This is a choice election where we will have the opportunity to decide in November if we will be free or not,“ Dorien Blythers, a longstanding campaign worker and Deputy Chief of Staff for the EPA, said in support of Harris.
Blythers and others engaged in conversations about the high stakes and urged voters to familiarize themselves with conservative plans like Project 2025, which aims to significantly restructure the federal government.
With Biden’s endorsement and the rapid consolidation of Democratic support, Harris stands at the forefront of a high-stakes election that could shape the landscape of American politics and society well after four years.
Harris is scheduled to attend a campaign rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday, July 23, but this was also originally in her schedule before President Biden withdrew from the race. It’s unclear if her campaign schedule will change now. This brings even more anticipation to the NCAA event, as it may provide clues about her campaign’s immediate steps.
