Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) praised Vice President Harris as “a great start” in her bid to win the Democratic nomination for president , but they stopped short of endorsing it on Monday.
“She is quickly gaining support from grassroots delegates from one end of the country to the other. We look forward to meeting in person with Vice President Harris soon as we collectively work to unify the Democratic Party and the country,” Schumer and Jeffries said in a joint statement.
Democratic leaders praised Harris for promising to pursue the nomination “in a manner consistent with the transparent, grassroots process established by the Democratic National Committee (DNC).”
Harris had already secured the support of more than 500 delegates by Monday afternoon.
The DNC announced last week that it would hold virtual proceedings between August 1 and 7 to certify the party’s nomination for president before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19.
Several prominent Democrats endorsed Harris for the nomination on Monday, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D); Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear; and Midwestern governors. JB Pritzker of Illinois, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Tony Evers of Wisconsin.
Whitmer and Pritzker were considered possible candidates for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination before Biden dropped out.
Pelosi, who worked with Schumer and Jeffries to pressure Biden out of the race, praised Harris for her endorsement as committed to public service and “brilliantly astute.”
“Officially, I saw Kamala Harris’ strength and courage as a defender of working families, fighting mainly for a woman’s right to choose. Personally, I have known Kamala Harris for decades as rooted in strong values, faith, and a commitment to public service,” Pelosi said in her statement.
“Politically, make no mistake: Kamala Harris, as a woman in politics, is brilliantly astute – and I have every confidence that she will lead us to victory in November,” she added.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
