Biden wants to run with Harris next week.
Biden and Harris wanted to discuss the "progress" they've made in reducing citizens' cost of living, the White House announced. Inflation is a central issue in the campaign. Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump blames the Biden administration for the sharp increase in citizens' cost of living.
Under Biden's presidency, U.S. inflation had risen to 9.1 percent by June 2022, the highest level in nearly 40 years. However, the main causes were primarily the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The inflation rate then dropped significantly. Last June, it was at 3.0 percent.
The 81-year-old Biden announced on July 21, after weeks of debate about his mental fitness for a second term, that he would not run for re-election and endorsed Vice President Harris as his successor. The 59-year-old was then nominated as the Democratic Party's new presidential candidate in an electronic vote between last Thursday and Monday.
Biden has largely stayed out of the campaign since his withdrawal. However, according to a report by the political magazine "Politico," Harris wants Biden's support in crucial swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, where he remains popular among older white voters.
Harris' candidacy has sparked new enthusiasm among Democrats, which has increased since she announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a down-to-earth and witty politician, as her running mate on Tuesday. Their first joint campaign appearances were attended by tens of thousands of people.
Harris has caught up with Biden in the polls and now has a slight lead over the Republican rival in several recent surveys.
On September 10, Harris and Trump will face off in a televised debate. ABC, the network hosting the debate, announced this on Thursday.
It's unclear if there will be more debates between the two. On Thursday, Trump proposed three debates in September during a hastily arranged press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He said he looked forward to it because "things need to be set straight."
Trump also criticized Harris at the press conference for not giving any interviews as a presidential candidate. "She hasn't given a single interview - she can't give an interview, she's barely competent," the 78-year-old said. Later, Harris said she had discussed with her team scheduling an interview before the end of the month.
During his presidency, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, faced criticism from former President Donald Trump over rising inflation rates. Despite Biden's announcement of not running for re-election and endorsing Vice President Harris as his successor, Harris and Trump are set to face off in a televised debate on September 10.
