Kamala Harris was due to meet Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday as her campaign to become the Democratic presidential candidate gathered steam.
President Joe Biden was hosting Mr Netanyahu for talks at the White House having addressed America on Wednesday night to explain his U-turn decision to drop his re-election bid amid the swirling questions over whether his age was impacting on his ability to lead the nation.
But the spotlight was already shifting from Mr Biden, 81, onto Ms Harris, 59, who was due to meet Mr Netanyahu separately for talks after the two leaders had spoken.
The meeting came amid questions over whether Ms Harris has enough foreign policy experience to be president and gives her an opportunity to convince people that she has the mettle to serve as US commander-in-chief.
Israel’s premier, who was in Washington amid growing pressure to agree a deal to end the Gaza war and get hostages freed, was then due to fly to Florida to meet Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, 78.
Ms Harris appears almost certain now to be the Democratic candidate for the November 5 election, with reports that former president Barack Obama plans to endorse her soon.
Speaking to the nation on Wednesday night, Mr Biden told how he decided to forgo personal ambition in what he said was a move to protect democracy. “I decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That is the best way to unite our nation,” he said in a solemn Oval Office address.
“Americans are going to have to choose between moving forward or backward, between hope and hate, between unity and division,” he added as he sought to contrast the rival visions for America put forward by Ms Harris and Mr Trump, the first ex-president to be convicted of a crime.
Mr Biden had previously rebuffed calls from within his party to quit the presidential race following his stumbling performance during a showdown TV debate with Mr Trump on June 27 and then mistakenly calling Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky “Putin” at a Nato summit earlier this month. The president praised Ms Harris, the first black and Asian American to serve as vice-president, as a strong leader despite criticism that she failed on plans to tackle illegal immigration.
“She’s experienced, she’s tough, she’s capable,” he said.
Mr Biden was surrounded by his family and staff who helped make his political career as he spoke from the Oval Office. They applauded when he finished his 11-minute address but also wiped away tears.
First lady Jill Biden and his son Hunter both hugged him. Hunter’s daughter Finnegan and the Bidens’ daughter Ashley also embraced him.
The Democratic National Committee’s rules agreed yesterday on a plan to formally nominate Ms Harris as soon as next Thursday, before the party’s August 19-22 convention in Chicago, with her picking a running mate by August 7.
Among the names being mentioned as her vice-presidential pick were Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear and transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.
