the vice president is smart and strong, which will make her a good president. but she is also kind and has empathy, which can make her a great president. if you want to lead this country, you should feel grateful for it. you should feel a sense of gratitude. and i never hear that gratitude come through when i listen to kamala harris. joining me for this hour... the democratic strategist mary anne marsh, dr hank sheinkopf, who has worked on dozens of election campaigns, david lytton, former speechwriter for barack obama, and dr christina greer, associate professor of political science at fordham university in new york.

first, the latest headlines... speaking at an event at the white house, kamala harris paid tribute to president biden, following his withdrawal from the election process. she said his record in a single term had surpassed that of presidents who had served two terms in office. the director of the us secret service has told a congressional committee that the attempt to assassinate donald trump was the most serious operational failure at the agency in decades. kimberly cheatle took full responsibility for any security lapse at the election rally in pennsylvania, where the attack took place. the hamas—run health ministry in gaza says that at least 49 palestinians have been killed and more than 180 wounded by israeli shelling and airstrikes on areas to the east of khan younis. it comes after the israeli military issued new evacuation orders for people there. a court in russia has sentenced a russian—american journalist to six and a half years injail, after convicting her of spreading false information about the military. alsu kurmasheva from

radio free europe radio liberty, denies wrongdoing. she was detained after travelling to russia to care for her mother. democrats have always argued they have the policy positions to win this election, even if, to this point they didn't have the energy or the unity. even if, to this point they didn't with the vice president now at the helm — she will put reproductive healthcare at the fore of the campaign and will be able to talk about it in a much more compelling way than donald trump, who many blame for the reversal of roe v wade. there are other dynamics at play, she is a prosecutor, he is a felon, she is 59 years old. he is 20 years her senior. there are many who were deeply opposed to a trump biden rematch and have long called for a generational shift in american politics, and not all of them were democrats. most americans do not want a rematch

between biden and trump. cheering the first party to retire its 80—year—old candidate is going to be the party that wins this election. the president continues to isolate in rehoboth beach, delaware, after being diagnosed with covid. which explains the written statement he issued. still too croaky to appear on camera. kamala harris is yet to speak about her candidacy, but she did appear today at a white house event, in the president's place, to honour champion athletes. and in that brief appearance she paid tribute to president biden�*s record. joe biden�*s legacy of accomplishment over the past three years is unmatched in modern history. in one term, he has already, yes, you may clap... applause in one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most

presidents who have served two terms in office. . , , in office. certainly, things were changing. _ in office. certainly, things were changing, there _ in office. certainly, things were changing, there was _ in office. certainly, things were changing, there was a - in office. certainly, things were changing, there was a change l in office. certainly, things were - changing, there was a change around the biden campaign last week, but kudos to you. you are often on the money on these things and you called me on thursday and said, in your view, it would be done and dusted by monday. can you now reveal why you were so confident? ha. yeah, i don't were so confident? no. yeah, i don't exect were so confident? iiru yeah, i don't expect your sources, but you were clearly in the know. i expect your sources, but you were clearly in the know.— clearly in the know. i don't think ou had clearly in the know. i don't think you had to _ clearly in the know. i don't think you had to be — clearly in the know. i don't think you had to be in _ clearly in the know. i don't think you had to be in the _ clearly in the know. i don't think you had to be in the know- clearly in the know. i don't think you had to be in the know to - clearly in the know. i don't think| you had to be in the know to see what was happening. there was clearly a campaign being waged for the better part of three weeks to persuade joe the better part of three weeks to persuadejoe biden to step aside. he made that decision on his own and you can deduct by the timing of it, the republican convention was done,

democrats needed a fresh slate, and that was what happened. i have to start by saying one eye—popping thing. kamala harris, since this announcement, as rate over $81 million in 2a hours, from 888,000 donors, 60% of them have never donated before. that's all the proof you need so far, in terms of quantifiable evidence, the effect this change has had on the race. what do you put that down to? i what do you put that down to? i think a lot of democrats wanted new energy— think a lot of democrats wanted new energy and _ think a lot of democrats wanted new energy and blood in the process. we are looking — energy and blood in the process. we are looking at an octogenarian in donald _ are looking at an octogenarian in donald trump. obviously, the debate last month _ donald trump. obviously, the debate last month showed a lot of democrats thatjoe _ last month showed a lot of democrats thatjoe biden of last month showed a lot of democrats that joe biden of 2024 last month showed a lot of democrats thatjoe biden of 2024 isn't last month showed a lot of democrats that joe biden of 2024 isn't the joe biden— that joe biden of 2024 isn't the joe biden of— that joe biden of 2024 isn't the joe biden of 2020 even though, as vice president _ biden of 2020 even though, as vice president harris stated, there have been _ president harris stated, there have been incredible accomplishments in joe biden— been incredible accomplishments in

joe biden presidency. but you have -ot joe biden presidency. but you have got young — joe biden presidency. but you have got young people who are energised, they have _ got young people who are energised, they have been asking for someone who is_ they have been asking for someone who is new— they have been asking for someone who is new and fresh and, even though. — who is new and fresh and, even though, ella harris has been in this administration, she represents the future _ administration, she represents the future of— administration, she represents the future of the democratic party. women — future of the democratic party. women of colour have been energised. there _ women of colour have been energised. there was_ women of colour have been energised. there was a _ women of colour have been energised. there was a call last night with 44,000 — there was a call last night with 44,000 black women and over $1 million _ 44,000 black women and over $1 million was raised in an hour, so there _ million was raised in an hour, so there is— million was raised in an hour, so there is an — million was raised in an hour, so there is an energy surrounding the democratic— there is an energy surrounding the democratic party, going into the dnc _ democratic party, going into the dnc. kamala harris is not the nominee. _ dnc. kamala harris is not the nominee, so what remains to be seen is how— nominee, so what remains to be seen is how democrats will behave when they gather in chicago and have to vote for— they gather in chicago and have to vote for her. do they gather in chicago and have to vote for her-— vote for her. do you think there will be a contest? _ vote for her. do you think there will be a contest? i _ vote for her. do you think there will be a contest? i am - vote for her. do you think there l will be a contest? i am cautiously optimistic _ will be a contest? i am cautiously optimistic. there _ will be a contest? i am cautiously optimistic. there are _ will be a contest? i am cautiously optimistic. there are a _ will be a contest? i am cautiously optimistic. there are a lot - will be a contest? i am cautiously optimistic. there are a lot of - optimistic. there are a lot of ambitious _ optimistic. there are a lot of ambitious people in the states, senators— ambitious people in the states, senators and governors who think it should _ senators and governors who think it should be _ senators and governors who think it should be them, they don't want her to walk— should be them, they don't want her to walk into— should be them, they don't want her to walk into the position, even though— to walk into the position, even though she is the vice president and the role _ though she is the vice president and the role of— though she is the vice president and the role of the vice president is to serve _ the role of the vice president is to serve if—

the role of the vice president is to serve it the — the role of the vice president is to serve if the president can't. some people _ serve if the president can't. some people want an open primary. time is of the _ people want an open primary. time is of the essence. if that happens,, ella of the essence. if that happens,, etta harris— of the essence. if that happens,, ella harris ——, ella harris has been vetted _ ella harris ——, ella harris has been vetted time — ella harris ——, ella harris has been vetted time and time again. we have about— vetted time and time again. we have about four— vetted time and time again. we have about four weeks to get that together. i am sure nancy pelosi is on the _ together. i am sure nancy pelosi is on the phone making sure people who are ambitious and a bit foggy wait their turn— are ambitious and a bit foggy wait their turn or are ambitious and a bit foggy wait theirturn orat are ambitious and a bit foggy wait their turn or at least wait a few more _ their turn or at least wait a few more years— their turn or at least wait a few more years so that the democrats can organise _ more years so that the democrats can organise themselves, reintroduce kamala _ organise themselves, reintroduce kamala harris and her running mate to the _ kamala harris and her running mate to the us _ kamala harris and her running mate to the us and hopefully go across the finish — to the us and hopefully go across the finish line on november the 5th. let me _ the finish line on november the 5th. let me read — the finish line on november the 5th. let me read the reaction of barack obama, i knowjoe has never backed down from a fight, for him to look at the political landscape and decide you should pass the torch to a new nominee must be one of the toughest in his life but i know he wouldn't make this decision unless he believed it was right for america. why is he stopped short of the endorsement the clintons gave

straight off the bat? goad the endorsement the clintons gave straight off the bat? good questions to our straight off the bat? good questions to your answer _ straight off the bat? good questions to your answer is _ straight off the bat? good questions to your answer is as _ straight off the bat? good questions to your answer is as good _ straight off the bat? good questions to your answer is as good as - straight off the bat? good questions to your answer is as good as mine. i i to your answer is as good as mine. i think, if you look at president 0bama was in her statement, what he is trying to do, and i think this is important for him and president biden, he is trying to make it clear this is also a moment aboutjoe biden and his decision i think there is lots of talk behind—the—scenes, often by people who perhaps link to the press, suggesting president 0bama and president biden were in conflict here, and i think ultimately, and you have seen this throughout the party, this is a moment of real appreciation for a president who made what is one of the defining decisions presidents have made in history, which is to say, i could seek more power and instead i will return to private life and return power to the people. that's what washington did after two terms in office when everybody expected he would run and perhaps be present for life, and it was a

defining moment for our country stop he said, i reaffirm the idea... so ou he said, i reaffirm the idea... so you don't buy the idea he was dragged by his ankles with chuck schumer armed with the polling saying, look, this can't stand, you have to give way, and then comes the disastrous polling in michigan, seven points behind. you don't think some of his ego was getting in the way some of his ego was getting in the wa y .. , ., , some of his ego was getting in the wa . , ., , ., some of his ego was getting in the way there are people who think he hunu on way there are people who think he hung on too _ way there are people who think he hung on too long. _ way there are people who think he hung on too long. i _ way there are people who think he hung on too long. i think- way there are people who think he hung on too long. i think two - way there are people who think he l hung on too long. i think two things can be true at once. joe biden this guy believes in himself. he relishes a fight. i think he genuinely believed, if you stayed in the race, he could take on trump pointed up i think he wanted to stay. i think it took time to get to this point. but somebody like donald trump, who is driven entirely by ego, would never have left this race, and the tropical campaign assumed biden

would never leave the race, because they couldn't imagine somebody, no matter how much evidence was out there that the landscape could change, would make a decision that put country first, and i think biden got their overtime and i think absolutely there were realities that drove him to this moment, but don't underestimate how hard it is for somebody who has spent his whole life in public service to say, you know what, this is entirely my choice, i have the delegates, i could do this if i wanted, and i am going to see the writing on the wall. we all know people who have failed to do that at points in their careers and joe biden didn't. i think that speaks highly of him. horse think that speaks highly of him. how much influence _ think that speaks highly of him. how much influence do you thinkjoe biden will have over this campaign? i read kamala harris is often to wilmington, which suggests the infrastructure will stay in place in the same people oversee the campaign. it the same people oversee the campaign-— the same people oversee the cam-cain. . . campaign. it looks that way. when ou look campaign. it looks that way. when you look at — campaign. it looks that way. when you look at the _ campaign. it looks that way. when you look at the resources - campaign. it looks that way. when | you look at the resources deployed across the country, the offices and

the money, all the staff and door knocking and everything they have started, that makes a lot of sense. but i think whatjoe biden can do in the remaining six months of his presidency is continue to do the work he has been doing for the last three and a half years for the american people, which would help kamala harris. the more he can emphasise not only his accomplishments but the one he still stands to get done any of them he campaigned on until recently, it will only help not only kamala harris but democrats up and down the ticket, and i think that the environment we need to november to be successful. are environment we need to november to be successful-— be successful. are you concerned, civen be successful. are you concerned, given that — be successful. are you concerned, given that in _ be successful. are you concerned, given that in the _ be successful. are you concerned, given that in the polling _ be successful. are you concerned, given that in the polling kamala i given that in the polling kamala harris was only polling slightly above joe harris was only polling slightly abovejoe biden, this might be too little, too late? she is 100 days from the vote, she doesn't have a running mate, four weeks from chicago. are you adult concerned she

might not be the right choice? ianthem might not be the right choice? when ou look at might not be the right choice? when you look at the _ might not be the right choice? when you look at the data, _ might not be the right choice? tween you look at the data, democrats have consistently one of the popular vote. their messaging resonates with americans, especially since kamala harris has been deployed across the country in key states, talking about abortion and a woman's right to choose, reproductivejustice. those are issues that have been winning issues for democrats. the proof is in the pudding in the sense that, if democrats can organise themselves and in key states make sure they win, those particular battleground states with a winning message, which tends to be abortion, which is an economic issue, and frame it as such, notjust using republican rhetoric, pro—life conversation, i think the democrats have a really solid chance. that doesn't mean black women are going to be able to pull kamala harris across the finish

line for the all democrats need to lift up their sleeves and work, and that means talking to your loved ones, who are putting themselves in knots about voting for a woman at the top of the ticket, those who are twisting themselves up in knots a woman in colour, making excuses we have seen when women run for high office. it's doing the heavy lifting is democrats to make sure the message is articulated because it is not looking about kamala harris or joe biden. it's about the future of our democracy, and donald trump has made it clear about what he plans to do in his second term. we know he will not hire the best people, it will not hire the best people, it will be a smash and grab presidency on a host of levels that are mere americans will not benefit in any way. americans will not benefit in any wa . ., . americans will not benefit in any wa. ., . ., ~ way. you have worked with the clintons, they _ way. you have worked with the clintons, they were _ way. you have worked with the clintons, they were very - way. you have worked with the clintons, they were very quick, way. you have worked with the i clintons, they were very quick, in contrast to barack obama, who has held back its endorsement, the clintons were very quick, do you think america is in a different

place to 2016, when hillary clinton lost the race against donald trump? absolutely. the country is more divided. the democrats are more fractious. it's not really a party any more, it's a group of cults that are put together under one rubric, which agree on certain issues but not most other things. they are going through a demographic transition which has a lot to do with age no longer the party of white, blue collar working people, those are republican several. what is a democrat? that's part of the problem kamala harris faces. the choice issue, that's important, but people don't those of us who worked on campaigns though, people make choices based on listing the things

that are reported to them, and economic security and whether she can be the commander—in—chief are going to be very significant. [30 can be the commander-in-chief are going to be very significant.- going to be very significant. do you think she is — going to be very significant. do you think she is a _ going to be very significant. do you think she is a unifying _ going to be very significant. do you think she is a unifying candidate? l think she is a unifying candidate? we talked in the last hour about how fractured the democratic base is and how she has to appeal to many different groups to build a coalition. is she the kind of candidate that could do that if she has the right message? she candidate that could do that if she has the right message?— candidate that could do that if she has the right message? she is a very credible candidate. _ has the right message? she is a very credible candidate. she _ has the right message? she is a very credible candidate. she is _ has the right message? she is a very credible candidate. she is an - credible candidate. she is an extraordinarily well qualified candidate, and everything she has ever said about immigrants and migrants will be used against her by donald trump stop i wouldn't get on a debate stage with her. today, trump wins. does he win in november? not clearfrom top trump wins. does he win in november? not clear from top there is a long way to go. for those of us who are

democrats, partisan clues are still partisan clues. the leader of the democrats can figure out how not to get completely massacred come the fall. she is the right candidate. whether she wins or loses, she will be effective in certain states. fin be effective in certain states. on that issue, mary ann, i know you follow the down ballot races very closely, perhaps there is a risk that the white house is already lost but the whole strategy around this was to save the senate and to save some of those house seats, perhaps even to compete against the republicans in the house? do you think she gives the democrats across the board a better shot? she think she gives the democrats across the board a better shot?— the board a better shot? she does. as dr greer — the board a better shot? she does. as dr greer said, _ the board a better shot? she does. as dr greer said, this _ the board a better shot? she does.

as dr greer said, this is _ the board a better shot? she does. as dr greer said, this is a - the board a better shot? she does. as dr greer said, this is a change l as dr greer said, this is a change not without risks, but she still has a ceiling to reach. everybody knew joe biden, he might have been able to keep some points everybody knows donald trump. he set his ceiling. what is clear is that, in states like pennsylvania and michigan, you looked senate candidates are running ahead of biden by double digits, 11 points, 18 points, and people really don't know kamala harris yet. they certainly know she is vice president but now they're looking at her in a new light. everybody, when you run for president, no matter what title you have held, people take a fresh look and say, can you be present? what kind of present will you be? i thought her first public appearance today, with the white house as her backdrop on the podium, with the athletes getting their awards, on the south portico, made her look presidential. so the first clip everybody saw is this, where she looks like a president. i think that

was a savvy move, not a big speech, but that is what it takes. you go through this process, where she has to introduce herself to the country, to introduce herself to the country, to the voters, and to define herself before trump and his campaign does that for her. first she has to come out positive but, in this compressed campaign, with 105 days to go, she has to quickly go for positive and telling everybody because she is and why she should be president to a quick contrast between herself and donald trump ultimately go negative and end up positive. there is a lot to go through but i thought for day one, it was a smart appearance. this one, it was a smart appearance. as ou one, it was a smart appearance. as you say, she gets a new hearing from the electorate. we are going to take a short break. you are watching bbc news.

welcome back to the programme. the situation democrats find themselves in is unprecedented. never before has a party's presumptive nominee left the race in the summer before the election and before the official nomination. we are 15 weeks from the vote, so things have to happen quickly. we are told tonight that the cash the biden campaign had on account has been transferred to the harris campaign. $95 million supplemented yesterday, after the announcement, by the biggest fundraising day of the campaign so far. we have also had news that michigan governor gretchen whitmer will become the co—chair of her campaign. but how does the nomination work? is it stitched up? let's try and get you some answers on the key questions. david, we were telling our viewers last week there was a movement in the democratic national committee to do this with a virtual convention, so to have the roll call of delegates done virtually before the

convention in chicago in four weeks. the reason is there is a deadline in ohio, a bit spurious, but 0hio, a bit spurious, but nonetheless a deadline in mid august. do you think, because of how this has been done, the country has to see delegates on the floor coming out to vote for kamala harris? i out to vote for kamala harris? i don't, actually. the reason a lot of people, myself included, felt the democratic party shouldn't to a virtual convention to nominate biden or a virtual roll call vote was because there was still this open question of whether or not he was going to be the nominee and what process would be used to replace him. if this were truly a competitive process right now, and there were a lot of people throwing their hats in the ring, it would still be a mistake to do a virtual roll call, but at this point the harris campaign say they expect to have this wrapped up in terms of the number plate delegates, they should reach a majority wednesday

afternoon. i wouldn't be surprised if they do it sooner. i think essentially, by tomorrow, kamala harris is going to be the nominee. the presumptive nominee, we have seen strange things happen, but i think process questions will no longer apply, think process questions will no longerapply, because think process questions will no longer apply, because the question before us, who is our nominee, and i think that question is essentially gone. if you wanted and you are eligible, you can throw your hat in the ring, but i think we can all see where this is headed and democrats are excited. is where this is headed and democrats are excited. , ., where this is headed and democrats are excited-— are excited. is that not a problem, dr greer, are excited. is that not a problem, dr greer. but _ are excited. is that not a problem, dr greer, but 14,000 _ are excited. is that not a problem, dr greer, but 14,000 people, - dr greer, but 14,000 people, delegates are slated to vote forjoe biden, and then, if you were to tell it the republican way, they decide on a candidate, he pulls out, they decide in committees in rooms and automatically she becomes the candidate without an open primary. does that open up the party to

criticism? i does that open up the party to criticism? ., , does that open up the party to criticism? . , ., , does that open up the party to criticism?— criticism? i am sure lots of republicans _ criticism? i am sure lots of republicans feel _ criticism? i am sure lots of republicans feel this - criticism? i am sure lots of republicans feel this is - criticism? i am sure lots of. republicans feel this is unfair, because they had a strategy to go againstjoe biden, and i'm sure some democrats want there to be an open contest. here is the reality. the election is november the 5th. kamala harris is not a random senator we have just decided should be the heir apparent, she is the vice president. joe biden has been clear it is a biden—harris ticket, so the fact he is stepping aside and has endorsed his vice president, i think, even though it is unprecedented, it follows the natural course. this isn'tjust him selecting somebody from a particular state and deciding he wants to endorse this individual. let's be honest, if kamala harris were a white male, i think some of this hand—wringing would not occur and so this idea that there could be

black, indian child of two immigrants top of the ticket, which we've never seen before, is making some people nervous. the fait accompli, we could never win against trump, well, the election this november fit so, trump, well, the election this novemberfit so, if trump, well, the election this november fit so, if people organise themselves as democrats, and greater message to stay the course, i think after that debate last month, many democrats got very nervous about the longevity the present during the campaign and, even if he were to be successful and beat donald trump, what would a second term of biden look like. so a decision was made. whoever made these decisions, delegates can still vote, but i think there will be an articulation of the ideas, and what biden has consistently said, it's not really about them, it's about democracy being on the ballot and making sure the democratic party leads the country in a direction which is the

antithesis of what donald trump has promised he will do. plan come across quickly, promised he will do. plan come across quickly.— promised he will do. plan come across cuickl , ., ,, , across quickly, you would think this is already stitched _ across quickly, you would think this is already stitched up, _ across quickly, you would think this is already stitched up, wouldn't - is already stitched up, wouldn't you? it is already stitched up, wouldn't ou? . . , , , . , you? it certainly is stitched up it was stitched _ you? it certainly is stitched up it was stitched up _ you? it certainly is stitched up it was stitched up by _ you? it certainly is stitched up it was stitched up by joe _ you? it certainly is stitched up it was stitched up by joe biden. i you? it certainly is stitched up it i was stitched up by joe biden. this was stitched up byjoe biden. this is not an accident. party politics are not fun. it's about strength and making hard decisions and about how you win campaigns and it's a tough move. through the rest of which, democrats will come out and say, isn't she wonderful, with big fundraising numbers, to make sure there is no chaos going to the convention. despite cloudy, damp and drizzly

weather this morning, still quite humid, and it felt that way with sunshine this afternoon stop not assume it for the next two days but more sunshine, just if few isolated showers and many will stay dry. some damp conditions tonight and a weather system pushing, bringing rate for northern ireland, sliding south into central and southern england and wales. some heavy evening showers in scotland and northern england, and they will depart, so clearer conditions, temperatures in double figures, and quite muggy in the south, temperatures no lower than 14 to 17. a fewer early downpours for the morning commute in london and the south—east before brightening up. sunny spell developing work elsewhere and some isolated afternoon showers, fairly light, many places avoiding them. the best sunshine around the coast, especially in the west. 19 to 24 is on par for especially in the west. 19 to 24 is on parfor this especially in the west. 19 to 24 is on par for this stage of the year. for tuesday night at wednesday morning, more cloud coming in from

the west, stopping temperatures from dropping too much but overall, compared to the coming night, fresher to take us into wednesday morning and not chilly by any means. more cloud to start wednesday, especially in the west, bringing heavy showers in western scotland and one or two elsewhere. the best and one or two elsewhere. the best and driest weather in central and eastern parts and we are back to warm and humid conditions once again. more cloud and a better chance of rain for thursday with weather systems pushing the envelope driest and brightest for longest in eastern areas on thursday and even their heavy areas can't be ruled out but the greater chance of rain in the west and it looks like longer spells of rain in wales and the south—west later. temperatures their lowest for the week. on thursday night, outbreaks of rain per she is, heaviest in the south, and on friday sunny spells and just one or two showers. showers most prevalent for

the north and west of the uk and most will have a reasonably prevalent afternoon and feeling quite warm in the sunshine, 18 to —tip saturday sees some showers in central parts but overall for the weekend and start next week, mainly dry, sunny and warm.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news.

josh shapiro, andy beshear, roy cooper. we look at who kamala harris might pick as her running mate if she wins democratic nomination. but the rules and procedures around the democratic procedure in chicago. in the last few minutes we have had the rules defining the conservative party leadership here in the uk. let me bring you some of that you said we are told the conservative party will have a new leader confirmed to on the 2nd of november. rishi sunak will remain acting leader until then. the leadership contest will formally open on wednesday with nominations closing at the end of the month on monday the 29th of july. they will choose four candidates. those four candidates will make their case at the conservative party conference in the autumn. party members will vote on

the final two candidates as