Photo: Andrew Harnik Getty Images via Agence France-Presse Kamala Harris during a speech at the White House on Monday in Washington
Danny Kemp – Agence France-Presse in Washington
Published yesterday at 6:45 a.m. Updated yesterday at 7:52 p.m.
- United States
Sunday, 1:46 p.m.: Joe Biden announces that he is withdrawing his candidacy in a letter to Americans. Behind this political earthquake lies the story of a decision made in the greatest secrecy, with a handful of close friends, from a vacation home.
It was only a minute before this publication on social networks that most of his campaign team learned the news, during a video call from the president, in isolation in his house in Rehoboth Beach (Delaware) for several days due to COVID.
On Saturday, the American media reported on a confined candidate, desperately alone and angry in the face of the army of Democratic heavyweights — his former allies — who called one by one for him to throw in the towel after his failed debate.
In reality, he consulted his family and a handful of his closest advisors to face the implacable reality exposed in the latest polls: his chances of victory in November against Donald Trump were dwindling.
In the hours leading up to the announcement, he kept his vice-president informed.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“On Sunday morning, Vice President [Kamala] Harris had numerous conversations with the president, before he announced that he would not run for re-election and that he would support her,” she told l 'AFP a source kept informed of events.
Phone calls
Kamala Harris learned this shattering news from her official residence at the Washington Naval Observatory, surrounded by her loved ones. The start of a new campaign to reverse the trend between now and the November 5 election.
To set this new political machine in motion and ensure the broadest possible support – her appointment is not automatic – the first black woman in such a position made more than 100 calls that day with Democratic executives, union officials and other personalities, this anonymous source told AFP. Kamala Harris's list of people called also includes her pastor.
To all, she said she “warmly thanks the president for his support, but she planned to work hard to win the Democratic Party nomination for herself,” the source adds.
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Jogging and basketball
In a political world where symbols are so powerful, the details that emerged from this historic day in the life of Kamala Harris says a lot about the story that those close to her are trying to weave.
She was dressed that day, it seems, in jogging pants and sneakers, a hooded sweatshirt from Howard University, the historically black establishment where she studied.
The love of vice-president and former senator from California for Converses is known — the fashion magazine Vogue even made its front page.
According to the close source, it was she herself who arranged to feed her team who came to support her on site — perhaps offering a flavor of what the White House kitchen would be like under her leadership.
“Salad and sandwiches on the lunch menu, salad and pizza for dinner,” adds this source to AFP. “The Vice President’s pizza was with anchovies, her favorite. »