Harris: 'We are deeply grateful' for Biden's service

In her first remarks since Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race and endorsed her, Vice President Kamala Harris praised the president’s “unmatched” legacy.

“In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who served two terms in office,” Harris said.

Harris reminded the crowd that she first got to know Biden through his late son, Beau, who served as a state attorney general alongside Harris and often shared stories about his father.

“He would talk about the kind of father and the kind of man that Joe Biden is. The qualities that Beau revered in his father are the same qualities that I have seen every day in our president. His honesty, his integrity, his commitment to his faith and his family, his big heart and his love — deep love — of the country,” she said.

Harris spoke on the South Lawn on Monday for a celebration of NCAA championship teams, filling in for Biden as he recovers from Covid. She used the top of her remarks to commend the president and his accomplishments, just 24 hours after his announcement shook up the presidential race.

The White House event marked Harris’ first public appearance after a whirlwind day in the Democratic Party. Potential challengers have quickly rallied around her, moving to seal her fate as an uncontested nominee.

But Harris kept Monday’s remarks focused on the president, not mentioning her fresh campaign for the White House. Hundreds of college athletes and coaches seated on the South Lawn applauded as she praised Biden.

“I am first hand witness that everyday, our president, Joe Biden, fights for the American people, and we are deeply, deeply grateful for his service to the nation,” Harris said.

The vice president had multiple conversations with Biden ahead of his announcement on Sunday, according to a person familiar with the conversations and granted anonymity to discuss the private calls. The Biden campaign rapidly rebranded in the hours after the president dropped, with the vice president raising more than $50 million less than 24 hours after entering the race.

Harris spent her Sunday surrounded by family and staff in the Vice President’s residence, spending more than 10 hours placing calls to over 100 party leaders, including members of Congress, governors, labor leaders, and leaders of advocacy and civil rights groups, according to the person familiar. She made clear in these conversations that she was grateful for Biden’s endorsement, but that she planned to work hard for the Democratic nomination.

The vice president plans to head to Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday to meet with staff at the campaign headquarters.

“One day down. 105 to go. Together, we’re going to win this,” Harris said in a post on X .