Dunkirk, N.Y. (WBEN) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has locked up nomination support from Democratic delegates after President Joe Biden dropped his re-election bid this past Sunday.
Among those to quickly support Harris with becoming the Democratic candidate for President of the United States against Republican candidate Donald Trump was New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who says amassing the support of the New York State Democratic Party and the state's delegates was a good shot in the arm for the Vice President.
"It shows she is the individual that we're galvanizing behind, that we believe she is the one who's going to be the most successful, and she has the most experienced," said Hochul while in Dunkirk on Tuesday.
Hochul is fully confident in Harris being able to ascend to the Presidency, if she were to be elected. She understands what it's been like to be No. 2 in command, and feels Harris has learned well from Biden.
"She has been at Joe Biden's side since he first took office, and she's traveled the world and has met with countless leaders, and cares about the same issues that are important to us as New Yorkers. So I wanted her to know that New York State is Kamala Harris country," Hochul said.
Hochul has been trying to get in touch with Harris to back her in the race for the Presidency, but says they just keep missing each other.
"Her schedule is extraordinary. I told her team, 'We'll catch up. We're gonna be good.' We do support her, and I'll be happy to report on that," Hochul said. "But I've spoken to her many, many, many times in the past. She has come to New York, she stood with me even when I was running for election, she called me right after I became governor. And as a fellow woman in politics, who understands the unique challenges, we have great support for each other. I look forward to being there for her in any way she needs me."
Ahead of Biden deciding to step away from his campaign for re-election, several Democrats continued to back the President and his ability to hold his spot in office and run for another four-year term. However, the philosophy changed quite quickly for many Democrats across the nation, and pushed for his exit from the race.
While Gov. Hochul can only speak to her own philosophy, but she still backs President Biden as the Democratic elected nominee.
"He went through the primary process, he was our candidate. And as I said all along, what happens is up to him," Hochul said. "I thought we should give the man the opportunity to either stay in the race or make his own decision, based on consultation with his family and his own decision making. That's the grace I wanted him to have to make that decision himself. Others can explain their own actions."
When it comes to the landscape of the Presidential race in New York State, Gov. Hochul says she has been meeting with other Democratic candidates and explaining how she is rebuilding the New York State Democratic Party in a way it has never been in the past.
"Building resources, opening up campaign offices, opening over 35 field offices for our candidates in the battleground areas, sending in organizers, hiring 70 people, college campus recruitment, Get Out the Vote efforts, early voting efforts we'll be talking about, campus registration. I am very, very hands-on in this, because it is critically important that President Kamala Harris has a House of Representatives that is not the obstructionists that it has been. That it is actually a partner so we can deliver for New York State," Hochul detailed. "So I'm very engaged, have met with our candidates, have talked to them, and excited about the future of making sure that Hakeem Jeffries, right from New York State, becomes the next Speaker of the House of Representatives. Imagine the clout that New York will have with a President who knows our state, has been here countless times. Chuck Schumer, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and Hakeem Jeffries as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, that'll be a new whole new era for progress in New York State."
As for Harris' potential running mate heading into the November election, Hochul believes the best candidate will be the one that Harris selects herself.
"There's a lot of suspense around this, but I can tell you, I also have a very, very strong relationship with all the governors. We meet regularly, we communicate. We have a lot of conversations around this process. So once the nominee is selected, if it's a governor, I'd be happy to talk about what I know about that individual and their ability to win the election, but also have a strong performance in any debates that come up," Hochul said. "Whoever she selects will be an incredible asset to the team."
