Kamala Harris news: Trump complains VP pick was 'mean' to Brett Kavanaugh as president's donations to her campaign resurface
Joe Biden has selected California senator and former state attorney general Kamala Harris as his running mate, the first black woman to run as vice president on a major political party’s ticket.
The Trump campaign swiftly reacted to the announcement, lashing out at the senator by calling her “phoney” and claiming she will “abandon her own morals”. Donald Trump echoed his campaign rhetoric from the White House, where he falsely portrayed her as a far-left senator despite her prosecutorial record.
Several US officials have congratulated the senator, with former president Barack Obama declaring that she is "more than prepared for the job" as the Democrats prepare for next week's nominating convention, which the former vice president is expected to receive the party's nomination to face the incumbent in November.
In a statement, the senator said: "Joe Biden can unify the American people because he's spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he'll build an America that lives up to our ideals. I'm honoured to join him as our party's nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief."
But the announcement revived criticism against the senator, who had left the Democratic presidential race at the end of 2019, as she faced scrutiny for her role as a "top cop" attorney general in an era of "progressive" prosecution, unable to reconcile her new calls for criminal justice reform against a career that did not implement the same reforms. The latest wave of criticism arrives in the wake of widespread demonstrations demanding an end to police abuse.
The candidates are expected to hold an event from Delaware on Wednesday to discuss "working together to restore the soul of the nation and fight for working families to move the country forward."
In an email to supporters, the former vice president said: "I need someone working alongside me who is smart, tough, and ready to lead. Kamala is that person."
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