KAMALA Harris is starting her campaign with power and confidence, a body language expert says as the vice president has made her first appearance since being endorsed for president by Joe Biden.
Biden withdrew from the presidential election Sunday afternoon in a shocking statement, later endorsing Harris to replace him as the Democratic nominee.
In her own statement, Harris thanked Biden for his endorsement and revealed she would be immediately launching her bid for the White House.
On Monday morning, the vice president spoke no further on the race as she made an appearance at the White House’s NCAA Sports Day.
Harris addressed the public at the event, sporting a trim black pantsuit and gray blouse.
Like past appearances, the vice president was all smiles and charismatic with the crowd.
Patti Wood, a non-verbal cue expert who has analyzed Harris’ body language for years, revealed the presidential hopeful excluded a strong confidence at the event.
Wood pointed to two main differences in the vice president’s body language that stood out compared to recent appearances alongside Biden:
- A longer stride when walking
- A longer arm swing
“Both of those things reveal confidence and a comfort in her power,” Wood said.
“And it’s particularly interesting to me because I’m also often analyzing her when she’s with President Biden. And so I believe a lot of times she restrains what is her more normal baseline of being a little bit broader, strider.
“Here she is confident and comfortable showing a little bit more power as she walks and even going against the baseline for how stereotypical females should walk and swing their arms.”
Wood explained that a person’s walk – particularly their stride – can reveal a lot about their emotional state as it is under the least amount of “conscious control.”
To analyze Harris’ non-verbal cues even further, Wood turned to the vice president’s hands.
She explained that, unlike many politicians, Harris does not have a traditional handshake for every encounter.
Instead, Harris is known for changing and adapting her greeting depending on the situation, sometimes using one or both hands.
On Monday, the vice president was spotted giving a quick up-and-down handshake before making her address.
VP Kamala Harris' full statement as Biden drops out of 2024 race and endorses her
“On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office.
“It is a profound honor to serve as his Vice President, and I am deeply grateful to the President, Dr. Biden, and the entire Biden family. I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from our days working together as Attorneys General of our home states. As we worked together, Beau would tell me stories about his Dad. The kind of father—and the kind of man—he was. And the qualities Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values, I have seen every single day in Joe’s leadership as President: His honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love of our country and the American people.
“With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.
“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.
“We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”
“That tells me she wants to go quickly into the speech,” Wood said.
“She’s confident going into the speech, she doesn’t want to delay or linger. She wants to go straight into it, which is another indication of excitement or confidence level.”
Similarly, Harris appeared to be holding her hands at a resting state slightly higher than usual.
“She’s lifting it slightly and lifting upward,” Wood said of Harris’ hands clasped together.
“Just lifting is an indication of joy and happiness.”
Finally, Wood looked to the vice president’s face for any indication of fear or hidden emotion as Harris set her sights on the White House in a sudden campaign.
Timeline of Biden's failed re-election bid
President Joe Biden endured weeks of calls to step aside before he announced on July 21 that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. Here are key developments leading up to his decision.
June 27: Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump sparks calls for him to step aside. His voice is raspy and he trails off several times after having already endured questions about his age and mental capacity following a series of blunders at public events.
July 2: Polls after the debate indicate that Trump is pulling ahead. Rep. Lloyd Doggett is the first Democratic congressman to publicly urge Biden to drop his bid for re-election and big Democratic donors issue the same call a day later.
July 5: Biden does a live TV interview with George Stephanopoulos where he tries to quell fears about his age and debate performance. He calls it a “bad night” and says he was under the weather and “exhausted.”
July 10: Senator Peter Welch becomes the first senator to call for Biden to drop out.
July 11: Biden refers to Ukrainian President Zelensky as President Putin at a NATO event.
July 13: Trump is shot at a campaign rally by a wannabe assassin. His popularity and favorability rating soar after he was seen bloodied on stage but walked off with a fist in the air, telling the crowd to “fight!”
July 17: Rep Adam Schiff and a series of other Democrats call for Biden to step aside and even former President Barack Obama tells allies that Biden’s path to victory has “greatly diminished.” Biden tests positive for Covid-19 hours later, after saying he would consider ending his bid if he were diagnosed with “some medical issue.”
July 19: Biden insists he will continue campaigning in his first statement since Obama’s U-turn – despite reports that he would decide to drop out by the weekend.
July 21: Just before 2 pm, Biden announces he is stepping aside in the 2024 election and endorses VP Kamala Harris.
During Monday’s event, Harris sported a big smile with her eyes narrowing out the cheek, which Wood called a “true smile.”
“I’m very conscious of the little reveals in a smile that can say it’s forced or it’s pasted,” Wood said, saying Harris’ smile was “liquid and moved.”
“So, that tells me she’s not having – there’s not a negative emotion underneath that she’s protecting or hiding.”
During the NCAA White House event, Harris did not speak on her campaign but reflected on Biden’s accomplishments as president.
It comes as...
- Biden admits stepping aside is “in the best interest” of the Democratic Party
- He immediately endorses Vice President Kamala Harris, who vows to “earn” the Democratic nomination
- Trump slams Biden as the “worst president in history” and says Kamala will be “easier to defeat”
- House Speaker Mike Johnson, GOP VP nominee JD Vance and other GOP call on Biden to resign if he’s “not fit to run”
- Expert warns Biden dropping out is bad news for Republicans
- Bill and Hillary Clinton endorse Harris but Barack Obama doesn’t
- Timeline reveals Biden’s failed re-election bid from debate disaster to Democrat betrayals
- Gavin Newsom tops list of names floated as possible replacements for Biden
“Our president, Joe Biden, wanted to be here today. He is feeling much better and recovering fast, and he looks forward to getting back on the road,” Harris said of the president, who is recovering from COVID-19.
“And I want to say a few words about our president. Joe Biden’s legacy of accomplishments over the past three years is unmatched in modern history.
“In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who have served two terms in office.”
She went on to praise Bidne further before directly addressing the young athletes.
“You remind us what can be achieved with hard work and ambition,” Harris said to the students.
Kamala Harris' potential running mates
Kamala Harris accepted Joe Biden's endorsed for the Democratic presidential nomination after the president ended his reelection bid on July 21
Harris said she plans to earn and win the Democratic nomination while uniting the party.
Who are Kamala Harris’ potential running mates?
- Pete Buttigieg: US Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg ran for president during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, competing against both Kamala Harris and Joe Biden.
- He was widely regarded as a breakout star, becoming the first openly gay candidate to win a presidential primary or caucus when he narrowly won the Iowa caucus during the 2020 primaries.
- Buttigieg was one of the first Democrats to formally endorse Kamala Harris after President Biden.
- In his statement, Buttigieg said Harris was “the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump, and succeed Joe Biden as President.”
- Andy Beshear: Governor Beshear has created a successful career in the heavily Republican state of Kentucky.
- The 46-year-old two-term governor fully endorsed Harris for president and said he would consider being her running mate.
- Roy Cooper: Democrats have praised North Carolina Governor Cooper for his history of defeating Republicans in the battleground state that voted for Donald Trump as president in 2016 and 2020.
- Cooper has fully endorsed Harris as the next president.
- The governor has previously stated that he and Harris, who both served as attorney generals of their states, have a really good relationship.
- Gretchen Whitmer: Michigan Governor Whitmer has been viewed as a rising star in the Democratic Party.
- In 2020, the two-term governor caught the eye of Joe Biden as a possible running mate before he ultimately selected Harris.
- Whitmer joined the growing list of Democrats who have backed Harris for president.
- A Harris-Whitmer campaign would be the first-all woman ticket for a US political party.
- Gavin Newsom: Prominent California Governor Newsom’s name has long been linked to a potential presidential candidate in the upcoming election.
- Newsom has already backed Harris for president, saying, “No one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump’s dark vision.”
- But there may be a problem if Harris and Newsom are on the same ticket.
- Both Newsom and Harris hail from California, and under the 12th Amendment of the Constitution, both members of a presidential ticket shall “not be an inhabitant of the same state.”
- If Harris were to pick Newsom as her running mate, they would forfeit all of California’s 54 Electoral College votes.
ROAD TO THE BALLOT
While Biden has put his endorsement behind Harris, the vice president still has a big hill to climb to clinch the Democratic nomination at the Democratic National Convention in August.
Harris must secure support from nearly 4,000 delegates and 700 superdelegates to name her nominee.
If chosen, several names have been floated as a potential vice president to run with Harris in November including Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, has already begun to criticize Harris, claiming she will be “easier” to beat than Biden.
As Harris’ campaign gets underway, Biden insisted Monday evening that he is “not going anywhere.”
The president made a guest appearance via phone as Harris spoke at the Democratic campaign headquarters.
“I’m so proud of what you’ve all done,” Biden said.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he continued.
“I’m hoping you’ll give every bit of your heart and soul that you gave to me to Kamala,” Biden said.
Full list of Democrats who have endorsed Kamala Harris
- President Joe Biden
- Gov. Roy Cooper, North Carolina
- Gov. Gavin Newsom, California
- Gov. John Carney, Delaware
- Gov. Josh Green, Hawaii
- Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York
- Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington
- Gov. Janet Mills, Maine
- Gov. Phil Murphy, New Jersey
- Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado
- Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut
- Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia
- Sen. Raphael Warnock, Georgia
- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin
- Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Sen. Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Sen. Laphonza Butler, California
- Sen. Maria Cantwell, Washington
- Sen. Ben Cardin, Maryland
- Sen. Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
- Sen. Chris Coons, Delaware
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada
- Sen. Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
- Sen. John Hickenlooper, Colorado
- Sen. Mazie Hirono, Hawaii
- Sen. Tim Kaine, Virginia
- Sen. Mark Kelly, Arizona
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, New Mexico
- Sen. Ed Markey, Massachusetts
- Sen. Patty Murray, Washington
- Sen. Jon Ossoff, Georgia
- Sen. Alex Padilla, California
- Sen. Gary Peters, Michigan
- Sen. Jacky Rosen, Nevada
- Sen. Brian Schatz, Hawaii
- Sen. Tina Smith, Minnesota
- Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Michigan
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts
- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
- Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon
- Rep. Steny Hoyer, Maryland
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York
- Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey
- Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Michigan
- Rep. Colin Allred, Texas
- Rep. Gabe Amo, Rhode Island
- Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts
- Rep. Becca Balint, Vermont
- Rep. Nanette Barragan, California
- Rep. Joyce Beatty, Ohio
- Rep. Ami Bera, California
- Rep. Don Beyer, Virginia
- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon
- Rep. Jamaal Bowman, New York
- Rep. Brendan Boyle, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Shontel Brown, Ohio
- Rep. Julia Brownley, California
- Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Illinois
- Rep. Cori Bush, Missouri
- Rep. Yadira Caraveo, Colorado
- Rep. Salud Carbajal, California
- Rep. Andre Carson, Indiana
- Rep. Troy Carter, Louisiana
- Rep. Greg Casar, Texas
- Rep. Sean Casten, Illinois
- Rep. Kathy Castor, Florida
- Rep. Joaquin Castro, Texas
- Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Florida
- Rep. Judy Chu, California
- Rep. Yvette Clarke, New York
- Rep. Jim Clyburn, South Carolina
- Rep. Steve Cohen, Tennessee
- Rep. Gerry Connolly, Virginia
- Rep. Joe Courtney, Connecticut
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Texas
- Rep. Jason Crow, Colorado
- Rep. Danny Davis, Illinois
- Rep. Madeleine Dean, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Diana DeGette, Colorado
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut
- Rep. Debbie Dingell, Michigan
- Rep. Veronica Escobar, Texas
- Rep. Dwight Evans, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Teresa Fernandez, New Mexico
- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Texas
- Rep. Bill Foster, Illinois
- Rep. Lois Frankel, Florida
- Rep. Maxwell Frost, Florida
- Rep. Ruben Gallego, Arizona
- Rep. John Garamendi, California
- Rep. Mike Garcia, California
- Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Texas
- Rep. Jesus Garcia, Illinois
- Rep. Daniel Goldman, New York
- Rep. Jimmy Gomez, California
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey
- Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Arizona
- Rep. Jahana Hayes, Connecticut
- Rep. Steven Horsford, Nevada
- Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Val Hoyle, Oregon
- Rep. Jared Huffman, California
- Rep. Glenn Ivey, Maryland
- Rep. Jeff Jackson, North Carolina
- Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Illinois
- Rep. Sara Jacobs, California
- Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Washington
- Rep. Hank Johnson, Georgia
- Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, California
- Rep. Bill Keating, Massachusetts
- Rep. Robin Kelly, Illinois
- Rep. Ro Khanna, California
- Rep. Dan Kildee, Michigan
- Rep. Andy Kim, New Jersey
- Rep. Greg Landsman, Ohio
- Rep. Rick Larsen, Washington
- Rep. Barbara Lee, California
- Rep. Summer Lee, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Susie Lee, Nevada
- Rep. Mike Levin, California
- Rep. Ted Lieu, California
- Rep. Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island
- Rep. Kathy Manning, North Carolina
- Rep. Lucy McBath, Georgia
- Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Virginia
- Rep. Betty McCollum, Minnesota
- Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky
- Rep. Jim McGovern, Massachusetts
- Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, New Hampshire
- Rep. Gregory Meeks, New York
- Rep. Rob Menendez, New Jersey
- Rep. Grace Meng, New York
- Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Maryland
- Rep. Gwen Moore, Wisconsin
- Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Florida
- Rep. Seth Moulton, Massachusetts
- Rep. Kevin Mullin, California
- Rep. Jerry Nadler, New York
- Rep. Joe Neguse, Colorado
- Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota
- Rep. Frank Pallone, New Jersey
- Rep. Chris Pappas, New Hampshire
- Rep. Bill Pascrell, New Jersey
- Rep. Brittany Pettersen, Colorado
- Rep. Mark Pocan, Wisconsin
- Rep. Katie Porter, California
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts
- Rep. Mike Quigley, Illinois
- Rep. Delia Ramirez, Illinois
- Rep. Jamie Raskin, Maryland
- Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware
- Rep. Deborah Ross, North Carolina
- Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger, Maryland
- Rep. Andrea Salinas, Oregon
- Rep. Linda Sanchez, California
- Rep. John Sarbanes, Maryland
- Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
- Rep. Adam Schiff, California
- Rep. Brad Schneider, Illinois
- Rep. Hillary Scholten, Michigan
- Rep. Bobby Scott, Virginia
- Rep. Terri Sewell, Alabama
- Rep. Brad Sherman, California
- Rep. Adam Smith, Washington
- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Virginia
- Rep. Melanie Stansbury, New Mexico
- Rep. Greg Stanton, Arizona
- Rep. Haley Stevens, Michigan
- Rep. Marilyn Strickland, Washington
- Rep. Eric Swalwell, California
- Rep. Emilia Sykes, Ohio
- Rep. Mark Takano, California
- Rep. Shri Thanedar, Michigan
- Rep. Terry Thompson, Missouri
- Rep. Dina Titus, Nevada
- Rep. Jill Tokuda, Hawaii
- Rep. Paul Tonko, New York
- Rep. Norma Torres, California
- Rep. Ritchie Torres, New York
- Rep. Lori Trahan, Massachusetts
- Rep. David Trone, Maryland
- Rep. Lauren Underwood, Illinois
- Rep. Gabe Vasquez, New Mexico
- Rep. Marc Veasey, Texas
- Rep. Nydia Velazquez, New York
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida
- Rep. Maxine Waters, California
- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey
- Rep. Jennifer Wexton, Virginia
- Rep. Susan Wild, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Nikema Williams, Georgia
- Rep. Frederica Wilson, Florida