Kamala Harris praises 'unmatched' Biden in first speech after he withdrew: VP says Joe 'wanted to be here' and is 'feeling much better' during COVID battle... and tells crowd 'you may clap'

Kamala Harris lavished President Joe Biden pinch praise connected Monday aft he endorsed her to beryllium nan Democratic nominee for president and prepared to sojourn her caller run office. 

The vice president made her first nationalist quality since Biden exited nan statesmanlike race, hosting an arena for National Collegiate Athletic Association title teams from nan 2023-2024 play connected nan South Lawn of nan White House.

Biden was expected to header nan long-scheduled arena but nan duties passed to Harris erstwhile he tested affirmative for COVID.

She began her remarks by praising Biden, noting that he was recovering well.

‘He is emotion overmuch amended and recovering fast. He looks guardant to getting backmost connected nan road,’ Harris said.

As nan crowd fto retired tepid applause, she reassured them ‘you whitethorn clap.’

She went connected to praise Biden’s work to his state and noted she first met him done his boy Beau. Harris and Beau Biden were some authorities attorneys wide - she successful California and he successful Delaware. Beau died successful 2015.

'The qualities that Beau revered successful his begetter are nan aforesaid qualities I person seen each time successful our president:His honesty, his integrity, his committedness to his faith, and his family is simply a large portion of it and his emotion of country.'

'We are profoundly deeply grateful for his work to our nation,' she added.

The praise was generous and nary uncertainty will beryllium rubbing for Biden, who revered his precocious boy and weighted Beau's sentiment supra all. One logic Biden considered Harris arsenic his vice president was because Beau liked her.

Harris will caput to Wilmington, Del., later Monday to meet pinch run staff.  

'It's nan first afloat time of our campaign, truthful I'm heading up to Wilmington, DE later to opportunity "hello" to our unit successful HQ,' she wrote connected X. 'One time down. 105 to go. Together, we're going to triumph this.'

The rainy upwind didn't put a damper connected nan crowd's enthusiasm. About 1,000 group were packed connected nan South Lawn nether nan cloudy, drizzling sky. 

It was expected to beryllium an arena celebrating assemblage students. Instead it turned into a first look astatine Harris' presdiential campaign.

Swarms of media were watching. Supporters screamed and gave Harris a opinionated ovation.

 The arena connected nan South Lawn astatine nan White House was antecedently scheduled earlier each nan play drama. Biden remains astatine his location successful Rehoboth Beach, Del., recovering from COVID. 

Harris moved swiftly to person a run successful spot aft Biden named her his heir apparent.

She began moving nan phones from her Naval Observatory residence - making calls successful her Howard University sweatshirt - arsenic she said to members of Congress, donors and different officials.

The Biden run besides lined up down her, renaming itself Harris for President.

The run took successful almost $50 cardinal since Biden endorsed Harris connected Sunday, it announced.  

Harris' adjacent run arena was scheduled to beryllium successful Wisconsin Tuesday. It’s unclear if her run schedule will alteration now that she is moving for nan statesmanlike nomination. 

While she doesn't person it locked up, respective imaginable foes person announced they are successful her corner. 

And she has yet to garner immoderate important opposition. 

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper person each endorsed Harris. All are seen arsenic imaginable VP contenders for her.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and California Governor Gavin Newsom - some of whom person been mentioned arsenic statesmanlike contenders - and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who ran successful 2020, each person endorsed Harris.

Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina - nan powerful African American leader whose endorsement of Biden gave him nan information successful 2020 - has endorsed Harris.

But location are a fewer salient Democrats who notably haven't endorsed her, including Barack Obama and erstwhile Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Harris said she intends to 'earn and triumph this nomination.'

Democrats will formally prime their nominee astatine their governmental normal successful Chicago.  

The Democratic National Convention is group to footwear disconnected August 19 done 22 successful Chicago where Biden had been group to formally judge nan information having received 3,896 delegates during nan primaries. 

Because Biden exited nan title earlier officially becoming nan nominee - nan much than 3,900 pledged delegates get to formed their ballots successful an unfastened normal for whichever campaigner they want. 

They whitethorn statement up down Harris, who, because of national law, is nan only campaigner that tin usage nan money Biden has raised for nan 2024 race. 

The delegates will clasp a ballot connected nan normal floor.

If a campaigner wins nan mostly of pledged delegates connected nan first ballot, they go nan statement nominee. 

If nary campaigner gets a majority, past nan alleged astir 740 superdelegates, besides known arsenic automatic delegates, get to ballot arsenic well. They see a operation of statement members and elected officials. 

Voting continues until a campaigner gets a mostly of delegates.