Harris nears running mate pick in crucial week

Vice President Kamala Harris, dealing with the challenge of maintaining early 2024 Presidential election momentum, faces a critical week ahead with the most vital decision of choosing a running mate.

Although Harris had secured enough delegates to become the Democratic nominee, a “virtual roll call” was still required for delegates to confirm her nomination.

As no other candidate qualified by the deadline last week, Harris was the only eligible candidate to receive votes. She officially secured the nomination on Monday night when the DNC released the final results.

Stay updated with the AP’s Election-2024 coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.

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Harris formally secures the Democratic presidential nomination

Vice President Kamala Harris has officially secured the Democratic presidential nomination late on Monday, becoming the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket.

Harris’ nomination became official after a five-day round of online balloting by Democratic National Convention delegates, with 99% of delegates casting their votes for Harris. The results will be formally certified before a celebratory roll call at the party’s convention in Chicago later this month.

Harris’ nomination marks the end of a turbulent period for Democrats following President Joe Biden’s disastrous June debate performance.

After Biden withdrew, Harris and her team quickly secured the necessary delegates to clinch the nomination, setting a new record with the Associated Press survey showing commitments received within 32 hours of Biden’s announcement.

Democratic strategist describes Walz as ‘fired up’

A Democratic strategist from Minnesota, who attended a fundraiser in Minneapolis, described Gov. Tim Walz and the audience as “fired up.”

Walz is a potential running mate on Vice President Kamala Harris’ shortlist.

Walz spoke at a fundraiser in Minneapolis, emphasizing a “politics of joy” approach for Harris’ campaign, criticizing Trump and Republicans for their stance on certain issues.

He was joined by Sens. Klobuchar and Smith, who praised his background and effectiveness.

Ken Martin, Chairman of the Minnesota-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, mentioned that young people are enthusiastic about Walz.

Exploring domain ownership and past dealings

In a previous case, a cyber squatter purchased the domain ClintonKaine.com before selling it for profit to a digital marketing company linked to the Trump campaign.

Similarly, the same individual now owns the HarrisWalz.com domain and is open to selling it for a price if Harris selects Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

This practice is common among domain investors looking to profit from popular names or brands.

Concerns over election misinformation and chatbots

Five secretaries of state wrote to Elon Musk, urging him to address an AI chatbot on the social media platform X that spread election misinformation.

The chatbot, Grok, produced false information about state ballot deadlines, reaching millions of people before being corrected.

The secretaries called for immediate action to ensure voters have accurate information.

Discussion on Project 2025 and future plans

Russell Vought, an architect of Project 2025, is likely to have a significant role in a potential second term for Donald Trump.

Project 2025 outlines ambitious proposals for governing under a Republican administration, with plans to overhaul government operations and policies.

Trump’s comments and market impact

Former President Donald Trump blamed Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden for the market downturn, labeling it the “Kamala Crash.”

He highlighted the impact on global markets and expressed concern over the future without his leadership in the White House.

JD Vance’s perspective on Harris’ running mate

Republican candidate JD Vance stated that the selection of Harris’ running mate is irrelevant to him, focusing instead on criticizing Harris’ record and policies.

Harris’ campaign initiatives

Harris’ campaign launched “Republicans for Harris” over the weekend, aiming to attract Republican voters disenchanted with Donald Trump.

Additionally, the hospitality workers’ union UNITE HERE endorsed Harris for president, committing to supporting her campaign efforts.