Washington, 23 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Following US President Joe Biden's decision to end his re-election bid in the 2024 race, Democrats are busy rallying behind Vice President Kamala Harris to pick up the baton.

The 59-year-old is seen as the most likely replacement candidate on November 5, having received the endorsement of Biden himself and numerous other leading Democrats. So far, no major party figure has said they will run against her for the nomination.

The final decision will be made at the Democratic National Convention due to take place in Chicago from August 19 to 22, although a party consensus could form well before then.

Speaking to campaign staff in Delaware on Monday, Harris said the past few days had been "a roller coaster and we're all filled with so many mixed emotions about this."

"I just have to say I love Joe Biden. I love Joe Biden. And I know we all do we have so many darn good reasons for loving Joe Biden," she said.

Harris outlined some of the issues she would be campaigning on, including affordable childcare and addressing poverty.

"Building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency because we all know when our middle class is strong, America is strong," she said.

"And we know that's not the future Donald Trump is fighting for," she added.

"So in the next 160 days, we have work to do. We have doors to knock on. We have people to talk to. We have phone calls to make. And we have an election to win."

Biden, who is currently isolating due to a Covid diagnosis, joined Harris by telephone.

"I want to say to the team, embrace her she's the best. I know yesterday's news is surprising and hard for you to hear. But it was the right thing to do," he said.

"The name has changed the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn't changed at all," he added.

Harris's campaign said it had raised $81 million within 24 hours following Biden's departure from the race.

Biden had said he will finish out the remainder of his term, which ends on January 20, 2025.

The camp surrounding the newly nominated Republican candidate, Donald Trump, reacted angrily to Biden's withdrawal.

Trump posted a slew of scathing comments on his online platform Truth Social, lamenting the time and money his team had invested "on fighting Crooked Joe Biden."

"Now we have to start all over again," Trump wrote, questioning whether his party should now be "reimbursed for fraud."

Senior Democrats have quickly came out in Harris' favour, including Governors Gavin Newsom (California), Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania) and Roy Cooper (North Carolina). All three had been touted in recent weeks as possible candidates to replace Biden.

From the left wing of the party, Harris received support from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Former president Barack Obama, meanwhile, spoke only of his confidence that "an outstanding candidate" would be found. 

Aside from beating Trump outright, many Democrats are hoping that Harris can at least prevent the Republicans from taking control of both chambers of the legislature.

All seats in the House of Representatives and around a third of the seats in the Senate will be up for grabs in the autumn election.

With Biden's withdrawal, Trump is the oldest presidential candidate in US history.  

The 78-year-old was officially chosen as his party's candidate at the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee last week, as was JD Vance as his running mate.

Photo: MIA archive