Kamala Harris is closing in on her party's nomination to run against Donald Trump in November after picking up a slew of endorsements from Democratic heavyweights as she praised Joe Biden's legacy at a White House event in her first public remarks since his exit from the race on Sunday.
In one of the most significant, the former House speaker, Nancy Pelosi - who had reportedly been instrumental in persuading Biden to step aside backed Harris last night amid a flood of support for the vice-president from politicians, unions and other allies less than 24 hours after 81-year-old Biden bowed to intense pressure to end his candidacy for a second term in office.
The hugely influential Pelosi had been one of the few remaining senior Democrats yet to publicly support the vice-president.
Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, and Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, were both expected to follow her lead.
"I have known Kamala Harris for decades as rooted in strong values, faith and a commitment to public service," Pelosi's statement said.
"Politically, make no mistake: Kamala Harris as a woman in politics is brilliantly astute - and I have full confidence that she will lead us to victory in November." Key endorsements also came from the Democratic governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and JB Pritzker of Illinois, who had been mentioned as possible challengers to Harris for the nomination in the event that Biden dropped out.
Their blessing for her candidacy, along with that of Kentucky's Andy Beshear, which also came yesterday, leaves a dwindling potential field of alternative nominees with just four weeks to go before the party's nominating convention in Chicago.
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