Top US Democrats fall in line as Harris steams towards nomination

Endorsements poured in swiftly Sunday for Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee following Joe Biden's extraordinary announcement that he would step down from the race.

Throwing support behind the current US vice president were a variety of party heavyweights as well as numerous governors and other officials previously considered potential nominee rivals, but who now stand a chance of becoming her running mate.

"A lot of big dominos have fallen, including almost all of the major, potential contenders who might have challenged her. Hard to see any other outcome here than her nomination," Democratic former White House strategist David Axelrod wrote on X, calling Harris' sudden momentum a "shock-and-awe campaign."

California Governor Gavin Newsom and his Pennsylvania counterpart Josh Shapiro on Sunday endorsed Harris to lead the Democratic ticket, removing themselves as possible contenders.

"With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America's Vice President, @KamalaHarris," Newsom wrote on X.

Meanwhile North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said Harris "should be the next president," and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who like Harris sought the Democratic nomination in 2020, said he would "do all that I can to help her win this election."

Democratic standard-bearers including Bill and Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and a raft of Democratic members of Congress, including left-wing star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also endorsed Harris.

Some notable figures, including former president Barack Obama and ex-House speaker Nancy Pelosi, praised Biden for his decision but stopped short -- for now -- of endorsing Harris.

The money was also pouring in, with Democratic fundraising group ActBlue announcing that small donors had raised $46.7 million in the hours after Harris's campaign launch -- "the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle."

Biden endorsed Harris as his replacement shortly after announcing he was bowing out, saying choosing her as his running mate in 2020 had "been the best decision I've made."

- Delegates fall in line -

The formal nomination process for a candidate occurs at the party's summer nominating convention, where delegates chosen from all 50 states, the US capital and overseas territories officially anoint a candidate chosen by voters during the primaries.

Biden overwhelmingly won the primary votes, and the party's roughly 3,900 delegates heading to the convention -- scheduled to begin August 19 in Chicago -- are pledged to back him.

However following Biden's shock announcement, the entirety of delegates from several states including Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina had swiftly pledged their support for Harris. A slew of delegates from elsewhere were also beginning to fall in line.

"I hope that we don't see a situation where we're Democrats who are looking for an opportunity to make a name for themselves, try to grandstand and become candidates in this race," Hendrell Remus, chair of the Tennessee democratic party, told AFP.

"I think now is the time for us to get behind Kamala Harris as a nominee."