Kamala Harris' planned campaign visit to Milwaukee takes center stage after Joe Biden drops out of presidential race

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden's decision on Sunday to withdraw from the presidential race gives Vice President Kamala Harris' planned visit to Wisconsin this week new meaning: She could be the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Harris is scheduled to campaign in Milwaukee on Tuesday in what could be her first campaign stop after Biden said he was ending his reelection bid as a growing number of Democrats called on him to drop out. The 81-year old president in recent weeks had faced sharp questions about his age and ability to defeat former President Donald Trump in November.

The Biden-Harris campaign did not reply to questions about whether there would be changes to Harris' travel plans, but an aide to Harris told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel no changes had been made as of Sunday evening. And Wisconsin Democrats began to throw their support behind the vice president.

"I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden wrote on X Sunday. In a subsequent post, Biden said Harris has his "full support and endorsement" as he called on Democrats to rally around her.

"Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump," Biden wrote. "Let’s do this."

Harris in her own statement called Biden's decision a "selfless and patriotic act" and said it was her intention "to earn and win" the Democratic nomination for president.

"I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda," Harris said.

Biden's move was praised by high-ranking Wisconsin Democrats.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who had declined to say whether Biden should stay in the race as she faces her own tight reelection race, told reporters at a campaign event in Stoughton that Biden's decision to withdraw from the race was "the patriotic thing for him to do."

She called Biden someone who has "committed his life to his country" and listed his accomplishments, though she noted she heard from constituents in recent weeks who expressed concerns about his viability. She previously said she conveyed those concerns to the White House but had declined to say whether she shared those worries.

Asked whether other Democrats should stand down and back Harris, Baldwin deferred to a statement from Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison, who pledged to move forward with a "transparent and orderly process."

Baldwin endorsed Harris as she praised her work as California's attorney general and as a U.S. senator. "She's prepared, and I'm very proud to endorse her," Baldwin said.

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, the only congressional Wisconsin Democrat who called on Biden to withdraw, told the Journal Sentinel on Sunday that Biden has done a "tremendous job" but called his announcement to step aside the "right decision" as he's faced pressure from within his own party. Pocan said Biden was "putting country before himself."

Pocan said Harris is "absolutely the leading contender" at the moment and speculated that not many Democrats with presidential ambitions "would want to get involved in a few-week-long campaign only to potentially lose."

"I know there will be lots and lots of conversations to happen in the coming hours and days," Pocan said. "But I certainly have every confidence in the vice president should she be the nominee."

And U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, a Milwaukee Democrat, said she "will support Vice President Harris as the Democratic nominee and will work hard to ensure Democrats win in 2024."

"My focus remains on defeating Donald Trump," Moore said. "We must all unite in our efforts to protect our democracy and individual freedoms."

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in a statement Sunday praised Biden's career and accomplishments. He attacked Trump, though made no mention of Harris. On Monday, he gave Harris his endorsement.

"Vice President Kamala Harris is a tenacious leader who has vigorously defended our democracy, fought to protect the freedoms we hold dear, and worked tirelessly to do the right thing and deliver for us," Evers said. "She can beat Donald Trump, and I’m going to do everything I can between now and November 5th to help make sure she does."

Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming on Sunday accused Democrats of "subjecting the American people to chaos, uncertainty, and an incapacitated presidency."

"If Joe Biden is incapable of the rigors of running for reelection, then he cannot be trusted to fulfill the duties of his office," Schimming said in a statement. "Everyone from Vice President Harris, Tammy Baldwin, and the Democrat establishment bears responsibility for enabling the vanity and self-delusion of the Bidens."

Baldwin's opponent, Republican businessman Eric Hovde, on Sunday noted Baldwin had declined to say whether Biden should continue to seek reelection and accused Baldwin of being part of a "cover-up" regarding Biden's viability.

"It really doesn’t matter who the Democrats pick," said Hovde, who has sought to tie Baldwin to Biden. "All the top options hold extreme views completely out of touch with our nation and are complicit in this scandal to defraud the American people."

Baldwin's opponent, Republican businessman Eric Hovde, on Sunday noted Baldwin had declined to say whether Biden should continue to seek reelection and accused Baldwin of being part of a "cover-up" regarding Biden's viability.

"It really doesn’t matter who the Democrats pick," said Hovde, who has sought to tie Baldwin to Biden. "All the top options hold extreme views completely out of touch with our nation and are complicit in this scandal to defraud the American people."

Still, other Wisconsin Democrats also lined up behind Harris as the new potential nominee.

Wisconsin Elections Commission Chair Ann Jacobs, a Democrat and delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month, posted a joint statement with seven other Milwaukee delegates praising Biden as someone who "always put his country first."

"We are excited to support Kamala Harris as our presidential nominee," Jacobs wrote in a joint statement. "We have full confidence in her and are energized to help her win this November!!"

State Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison, who on Friday called on Biden to withdraw from the race, praised his decision as "selfless and patriotic."

"His presidency is transformational, and my kids and grandkids are going to feel the positive effects of the changes that the Biden-Harris administration made, and that really is an extraordinary legacy," Roys told the Journal Sentinel.

Roys said Harris would provide a sharp contrast to Trump as a prosecutor running against a convicted felon. She said Harris would offer energy, charisma and dynamism as a presidential candidate.

"Democrats have so much great talent, so many leaders who are doing smart, progressive, thoughtful things to put money back in people's pockets, to protect protect our freedoms and rights, and we're going to be able to focus on that," Roys said.

Asked whether it's best for Democrats to line up behind Harris, Roys said it's important for people to come to that decision on their own, but she thinks Biden's endorsement will be "extremely persuasive."

And Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly similarly tweeted that Harris "is ready to be President, and I am all in to win with her at the top of the ticket this November."

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson also noted he will "now focus my attention to make sure that we elect Kamala Harris to be the next President of the United States."

Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson put Harris' future at the top of the ticket this way: "With Biden‘s blessing it seems a fait-accompli." He floated Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as a potential vice presidential nominee.

"I’d knock doors for that duo," Nelson said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Biden exit puts Kamala Harris' Milwaukee campaign visit center stage