Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden attended an event together in Maryland for the first time since the president ended his second-term campaign and Ms. Harris replaced him as the Democratic nominee.
Thursday’s event celebrated the Biden administration’s newly announced deal to significantly lower the cost of 10 common prescription drugs for millions of Americans.
But it also offers a glimpse into the dynamic between the two just weeks after the Democratic ticket was adjusted. Mr. Biden praised Ms. Harris and expressed his support for her to the crowd.
“I have an incredible partner in the progress we’ve made,” the president said. “She’s going to be a great president.”
The White House said about 2,300 people attended Thursday’s rally in Upper Marlborough, Maryland, a Democratic stronghold less than an hour from Washington, DC.
But Biden not only announced policies but also gave his vice-presidential position a boost. He brought the crowd to its feet multiple times.
Ms. Harris felt each other’s warmth.
“This room is filled with so much love for our president,” she said. “Few leaders in our country have done more on so many issues than Joe Biden, including expanding access to affordable health care.”
Thousands of people lined up in the summer heat to watch Mr Biden and Ms Harris speak. Social media videos showed hundreds of people lining up even as the venue was full.
It was the latest in a series of events hosted by Ms. Harris that attracted large crowds of supporters and marked a clear shift in energy in the presidential campaign.
This enthusiasm is also reflected in the polling data. A recent Cook Political Report survey showed Ms. Harris was erasing former President Trump’s polling leads in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Vivian Strong waited three hours to attend Thursday’s event. She told the BBC she wanted to be part of the historic moment.
“I have a sense of urgency to really make sure she gets elected,” she said. “I don’t want another person in power.”
Before the president and vice president took the stage, some supporters led the crowd in chants from Howard University, the historically black college in Washington, D.C., where Ms. Harris attended.
Many of the vice president’s supporters wore pink and green, the colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), to which Ms. Harris belongs.
Linda Jones, a Howard alumna and AKA member, said she is excited about their shared identity. But she is also eager to see Mr. Biden speak.
“I’m delighted that President Biden has been able to achieve what he’s worked so hard to achieve,” Ms Jones told the BBC, referring to the prescription drugs deal. “He’s a great guy and I’m very sad that he’s leaving with a cloud, So now I feel [this policy] Another motivation for him.
