Democrats are rallying around Harris as she vows to ‘earn and win’ party nomination for president

Follow AP’s live coverage of President Joe Biden’s announcement that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats quickly rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris as their likely presidential nominee Sunday after President Joe Biden ‘s ground-shaking decision to bow out of the 2024 race, a volatile fast-moving political situation just months before the November election.

Shortly after Biden stepped aside he firmly endorsed Harris, who would make history as the nation’s first Black and South Asian woman to become a major party’s presidential nominee. Other endorsements flowed from former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the first major female presidential nominee, and prominent U.S. senators, a wide swath of House representatives and members of the influential Congressional Black Caucus.

Would-be challengers for the job became instant Harris supporters.

As Democrats organize to confront Republican Donald Trump this fall, Biden said choosing Harris as his vice president had been the “best decision” he ever made. “Let’s do this,” he said.

“My intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris declared in a statement.

What to know:

• Biden drops out: The president ended his reelection bid and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris after a disastrous debate inflamed age concerns. Read Biden’s letter announcing his withdrawal.
• What happens next: How Biden passing the baton to Harris might work.
• Praise, calls for resignation: Democrats hailed Biden’s decision as selfless while Republicans urged him to resign.
• Inside Biden’s legacy: Historians and political advisers say history will be kinder to Biden than voters have been.
• Broken barriers: Harris could become the first Black woman,