Kamala Harris news - Senator pays tribute to Beau after Joe Biden gives rousing speech taking aim at Trump

Who is Kamala Harris?

The veepstakes have come to an end: on Tuesday Joe Biden selected California senator and former state attorney general Kamala Harris as his running mate, the first black woman to run as vice president on a major political party's ticket.

Mr Biden and Ms Harris kicked off their campaign with a joint appearance in Delaware in which they both gave personal, passionate speeches that told their very different stories and how they were drawn together by Beau Biden.

Earlier endorsements and congratulations poured in from Democratic Party luminaries, including former president Barack Obama, and Ms Harris' fellow contenders to join Mr Biden on the 2020 ticket. Majority leader of the House Nancy Pelosi described Ms Harris as "the best possible person" Mr Biden could have chosen.

The Trump campaign quickly responded to the news, describing Ms Harris as "phony" and predicting she will prove to be former vice president Biden's "political living will." President Donald Trump referred to her as "nasty" and as a liar.

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Key Points

• Rousing, humanising speeches from both Biden and Harris
• 'I have no doubt that I picked the right person to join me as the next Vice President of the United States of America,' says Biden
• By choosing Kamala Harris, Joe Biden just torpedoed Trump's top election tactic
• 'Top cop’: What is Kamala Harris’ history with the police?
• It’s been a long road to Kamala Harris being named as the VP pick – here’s what Joe Biden needs to do next

[12 August 2020 22:33 · Oliver O'Connell]

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden listens as his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks during a campaign event at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Delaware. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

[12 August 2020 22:34 · Oliver O'Connell]

We need more than a victory, we need a mandate, says Harris.

[12 August 2020 22:34 · Oliver O'Connell]

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event with his running mate Senator Kamala Harris, at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Delaware. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

[12 August 2020 22:36 · Oliver O'Connell]

Harris called for a coalition of conscience against Donald Trump. 

Biden has said this is a fight for the soul of the nation.

[12 August 2020 22:40 · Oliver O'Connell]

[12 August 2020 22:48 · Oliver O'Connell]

Lacking the crowds and fanfare associated with other campaigns, this was still an effective way to frame the ticket.

Passionately told stories that differ in detail, but are similar in the essentials, tied together by a determination to take the fight to the Trump-Pence ticket.

The tone was positive, humanising, and inspirational. The atmosphere, necessarily intimate,  proved effective for both speakers — cutting though to issues that are on people's minds right now.

[12 August 2020 22:51 · Oliver O'Connell]

That's all for our live coverage of the Biden-Harris campaign today. 

Please stay tuned to The Independent for the latest news and analysis on the 2020 election.