Harris replaces Biden to face Trump in US election

Harris takes over from Biden as the fight with Trump restarts

Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race and endorse Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee has peine a contest many considered decided. Until then, the prevailing view was that Trump had re-election practically secured. The announcement changes the dynamics: Harris, vice president and former prosecutor, becomes the Democratic candidate facing the Republican. The question is no longer whether Biden could hold on, but whether his number two can stop Trump.

The unexpected handover

The announcement caught everyone off guard. The general feeling was that Biden would finish his term, even beyond 2024. His withdrawal, supporting Harris, was interpreted as a move forced by circumstances rather than a strategic bet. Some argue Democrats know this election is lost and the switch is an attempt to limit damage. Others believe Harris revitalizes the party: she relies on female and Black voters, the latter particularly disengaged in recent elections.

Age now works in Democrats’ favor. Harris is the young candidate; Trump, the veteran. This shift, unthinkable months ago, is the central argument for those seeing real chances of victory.

Kamala Harris: support and baggage

Harris’s profile divides opinion. Supporters highlight her institutional standing and party apparatus backing, which would make a challenge at the convention difficult. Critics point to low popularity and a record they see as exploitable by rivals. Among past episodes cited is her relationship years ago with San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, a married man thirty years older than her when Harris was 29. This relationship has been used as political ammunition for years.

Demographic factors also play a role. Harris is the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father. Her paternal grandparents owned a slave plantation, a paradox that hasn’t gone unnoticed. Her height, 1.57 meters (5 ft 2 in), has become a target for mockery in some circles. She has no children, something a portion of the US electorate considers unusual.

The Michelle Obama factor and the convention

Michelle Obama’s shadow looms over the process. Some consider the former First Lady a more potent asset to mobilize pogre voters, though others doubt her actual value. The possibility of Harris being challenged at the convention isn’t ruled out, but seems complicated: she has the establishment’s backing and her institutional position as vice president.

The Democratic convention thus becomes an open scenario. It’s not just a formality. It’s the final filter before a campaign expected to be brutal.

Election calendar and fraud concerns

The US electoral system is under suspicion again. Part of the analysis suggests the outcome will be decided in courts or recounts, not at the polls. Distrust in the process can mobilize or demobilize both sides. Comparison with 2020 is inevitable.

Meanwhile, Trump maintains a lead in voting intention according to most polls, but the margin has narrowed since Harris entered the race. According to some analyses, the Republican campaign made the mistake of underestimating the weight of female and Black votes.

What Spain and Europe stand to lose

November’s result has direct implications for Europe. Support for Ukraine, relations with NATO, and migration pressure are among the fronts dependent on who occupies the White House. A Trump victory is perceived in certain circles as a risk to European security; a Harris win, as continuity with nuances.

In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was among the first to react. He called Biden’s decision “brave and dignified” and highlighted his role in overcoming the post-pandemic economic crisis and supporting Ukraine. A gesture read in domestic terms as much as international ones.

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The battle is set. Harris has three months to turn an emergency replacement into a credible candidacy. Trump must prove his advantage is structural, not circumstantial. Does anyone dare predict the outcome?