What Idaho Democrats Say About Kamala Harris

Democratic leaders in Idaho quickly joined Democrats across the country in backing Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential nominee to take on former President Donald Trump after President Joe Biden abruptly dropped out of the race on Sunday.

The president’s historic decision — the last time a president has dropped out of a race — puts the party in uncharted waters. Democrats now have days or weeks to select a new nominee before the Democratic National Convention in August.

But while party strategists and commentators have suggested a competitive nominating process, or even a miniature rerun of the primaries, Harris appeared to all but clinch the nomination within hours of Biden’s announcement and endorsement. Democrats in Idaho were also quick to endorse her.

Click to resize

Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, a delegate to the national convention, joined 250 other mayors in endorsing Harris on Monday morning, according to a press release. Earlier this month, amid party panic over Biden’s candidacy following a disastrous debate performance in late June, McLean voiced his support for Biden in a social media post.

House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel (D-Boise), who is also a representative, told the Idaho Statesman on Monday that she would support Harris, saying the possibility of a competitive process at such a late date was far-fetched.

“It appears that there has been a strong coalescence over the last 48 – it was less than 48 hours – 36 hours,” Rubel said by phone.

“Maybe in a different world, if we had more time, it would have been good to have a more open convention process,” she said. “I don’t think we have the luxury of time to cram a fully open primary process into three weeks.”

That time frame could be even shorter. Although the convention in Chicago is scheduled to begin on Aug. 19, Democrats had planned to hold a vote on delegate names in early August. Rubel said she expects that vote, if held, to be the binding vote on the nomination.

“I think Harris is our lady, and I’m happy about that,” she added.

Idaho will have 27 delegates at the national convention, most of whom were selected at the state convention in June. Idaho delegates typically cast their votes to reflect the preferences of the state’s Democratic voters during the presidential caucus in May. Those votes went overwhelmingly to Biden.

Some Democrats hesitate before supporting Harris

Former President Barack Obama indicated in his response on Sunday that he wanted something other than a coronation for Harris.

“I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party can move forward with a process that will produce an outstanding nominee,” he said in a blog post following Biden’s endorsement of Harris.

And Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House, had indicated earlier this month that she would support a competitive nomination process, according to reporting in The New York Times. But she endorsed Harris on Monday.

Party leaders such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, both Democrats from New York, have not yet endorsed Harris.

Still, the Biden campaign’s war chest and staffers were diverted to Harris on Sunday, and she quickly received endorsements from other party leaders. By Monday morning, most prominent Democrats had turned up, as the candidates for the nomination had already endorsed her.

Harris has a huge fundraising advantage over potential challengers, who would have to build a presidential campaign from scratch. Harris’ campaign raised nearly $50 million in less than a day after Biden’s announcement.

Idaho Democrats sweat after Biden debate

Although there have been concerns about the 81-year-old’s age for years, Biden faced no serious opponents in the primaries and won more than 95% of the Democratic vote in the state’s May primary.

That changed after Biden’s performance at the late June debate, which Rubel called a “sea of ​​change” for Democrats.

“To say it went badly would be an understatement,” she told the Statesman. “It really shook people up and made people concerned about the Democrats’ chances in what is a staggeringly important election.”

Biden was already behind in many polls, but the polls indicate he will fall even further against Trump.

Rubel said Biden’s decision was an “ultimate act of self-sacrifice” that would revitalize the party.

“I think there’s a much stronger sense of optimism now,” she said.