Harris transforms Biden campaign into her own
"Constructing the aircraft mid-flight"
TroibNews 
Vice President Kamala Harris and her top aides swiftly transitioned President Joe Biden's campaign into her own on Monday and initiated an expedited selection process for her running mate.
Harris has quickly garnered support within the party, but with less than four months until Election Day due to Biden's abrupt exit on Sunday, she faces rapid decision-making on pivotal issues that could determine the campaign's outcome. The situation compresses what is usually a multi-year process into mere weeks or months.
One of Harris’ key decisions, her choice of vice president, must be made within days. A draft plan from the Democratic National Committee circulated Monday night indicates that delegates might begin voting on nominations as soon as next week, drastically shortening the typical vetting period for potential candidates.
At an all-staff meeting at the newly designated Harris campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Harris announced the continuation of Julie Chávez Rodríguez and Jen O’Malley Dillon in their leadership roles as campaign manager and campaign chair, respectively.
“We’re building the plane while we’re flying it,” stated former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers, a close Harris ally. “She’s going to be everywhere. Her message will be everywhere. This is going to be unlike anything we've seen before. These won’t be baby steps. She'll explode on the scene.”
Following Biden’s withdrawal, Harris' team immediately began strategizing her public reintroduction as a presidential candidate, her response to attacks from former President Donald Trump’s camp, and how her electoral approach will differ from Biden’s, according to sources familiar with the internal discussions.
There’s talk of a campaign blitz across key battleground states where Harris plans to target Trump and Project 2025's policy proposals, which Democrats view as ripe for criticism. Harris aims to establish her individual identity and advocate for sustained Democratic governance. This information comes from interviews with 20 people close to Harris, including aides, allies, and Democratic officials.
During her initial visit to campaign headquarters as a declared candidate, Harris outlined the forthcoming attacks on Trump: “I was the elected attorney general, and before that I was a courtroom prosecutor. In those roles I took on perpetrators of all kinds,” Harris mentioned. “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.”
Harris' selection of a vice president will be a crucial test of her campaign control. Several names have emerged since Harris assumed the campaign, including Sen. Mark Kelly, Gov. Roy Cooper, and Gov. Josh Shapiro. Other potential candidates pushed by Democrats include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
“It’s going to be totally her call,” a Harris confidant told POLITICO. Additional sources close to Harris supported this, stating the choice would be entirely hers despite taking over Biden’s campaign late in the game.
Nonetheless, the tight timeline complicates the vetting process, forcing Harris to rely more on instinct. Presidential nominees usually have extended time to evaluate potential VP picks.
“Some of this is chemistry. She knows having been VP what it feels like. What kind of partner does she want in this,” an ally in frequent contact with her team noted. “Some will require more [vetting] than others.”
The nomination process could start as early as next week, following the DNC’s virtual roll call proposal. This move comes after vigorous efforts to convince delegates to continue their support, especially now that Harris has effectively cleared the field of challengers, according to a source familiar with the committee’s internal discussions.
“This has been an open process because no one has told anyone not to get in,” a member of the Democratic National Convention rules committee said. “But no one else has dipped their toe in the water.”
One of the immediate priorities is staffing. Harris’ allies have reached out to David Plouffe, former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign manager, to assist with running a hybrid advising team, according to knowledgeable sources.
Plouffe's supporters are urging him to join the Harris campaign, believing she needs seasoned voices outside the existing Biden and Harris circles.
Despite the integration of new team members, Harris’ representatives have reassured Biden's campaign staff of their continued involvement. O’Malley Dillon emphasized this continuity in several calls on Sunday.
“We are the ones that are going to work with Vice President Harris to carry this forward, and we're going to be excited for new people to come on board,” she said, according to a source who shared a call transcript with POLITICO.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
Harris has quickly garnered support within the party, but with less than four months until Election Day due to Biden's abrupt exit on Sunday, she faces rapid decision-making on pivotal issues that could determine the campaign's outcome. The situation compresses what is usually a multi-year process into mere weeks or months.
One of Harris’ key decisions, her choice of vice president, must be made within days. A draft plan from the Democratic National Committee circulated Monday night indicates that delegates might begin voting on nominations as soon as next week, drastically shortening the typical vetting period for potential candidates.
At an all-staff meeting at the newly designated Harris campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Harris announced the continuation of Julie Chávez Rodríguez and Jen O’Malley Dillon in their leadership roles as campaign manager and campaign chair, respectively.
“We’re building the plane while we’re flying it,” stated former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers, a close Harris ally. “She’s going to be everywhere. Her message will be everywhere. This is going to be unlike anything we've seen before. These won’t be baby steps. She'll explode on the scene.”
Following Biden’s withdrawal, Harris' team immediately began strategizing her public reintroduction as a presidential candidate, her response to attacks from former President Donald Trump’s camp, and how her electoral approach will differ from Biden’s, according to sources familiar with the internal discussions.
There’s talk of a campaign blitz across key battleground states where Harris plans to target Trump and Project 2025's policy proposals, which Democrats view as ripe for criticism. Harris aims to establish her individual identity and advocate for sustained Democratic governance. This information comes from interviews with 20 people close to Harris, including aides, allies, and Democratic officials.
During her initial visit to campaign headquarters as a declared candidate, Harris outlined the forthcoming attacks on Trump: “I was the elected attorney general, and before that I was a courtroom prosecutor. In those roles I took on perpetrators of all kinds,” Harris mentioned. “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.”
Harris' selection of a vice president will be a crucial test of her campaign control. Several names have emerged since Harris assumed the campaign, including Sen. Mark Kelly, Gov. Roy Cooper, and Gov. Josh Shapiro. Other potential candidates pushed by Democrats include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
“It’s going to be totally her call,” a Harris confidant told POLITICO. Additional sources close to Harris supported this, stating the choice would be entirely hers despite taking over Biden’s campaign late in the game.
Nonetheless, the tight timeline complicates the vetting process, forcing Harris to rely more on instinct. Presidential nominees usually have extended time to evaluate potential VP picks.
“Some of this is chemistry. She knows having been VP what it feels like. What kind of partner does she want in this,” an ally in frequent contact with her team noted. “Some will require more [vetting] than others.”
The nomination process could start as early as next week, following the DNC’s virtual roll call proposal. This move comes after vigorous efforts to convince delegates to continue their support, especially now that Harris has effectively cleared the field of challengers, according to a source familiar with the committee’s internal discussions.
“This has been an open process because no one has told anyone not to get in,” a member of the Democratic National Convention rules committee said. “But no one else has dipped their toe in the water.”
One of the immediate priorities is staffing. Harris’ allies have reached out to David Plouffe, former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign manager, to assist with running a hybrid advising team, according to knowledgeable sources.
Plouffe's supporters are urging him to join the Harris campaign, believing she needs seasoned voices outside the existing Biden and Harris circles.
Despite the integration of new team members, Harris’ representatives have reassured Biden's campaign staff of their continued involvement. O’Malley Dillon emphasized this continuity in several calls on Sunday.
“We are the ones that are going to work with Vice President Harris to carry this forward, and we're going to be excited for new people to come on board,” she said, according to a source who shared a call transcript with POLITICO.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
