Who is Kamala Harris in US politics? 1:43
(CNN) –– Virtual Democratic candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, make their first appearance together Wednesday afternoon during a speech in Delaware.
The event comes a day after Biden chose Harris as his vice presidential candidate, following a selection process that lasted months. Harris is the first black woman and the first person of Indian origin to run for one of the major political parties in the United States.
- READ: The six reasons why Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his running mate and what this means
Their partners, Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff, will also attend the speech in Wilmington, said Michael LaRosa, a spokesperson for Jill Biden,
In a tweet anticipating his message, Biden wrote on Wednesday morning that if he and Harris win they will inherit "multiple crises, a divided nation and a world in disarray. We won't have a minute to lose. "
"That is exactly why I chose her: she is ready to lead from day one," he added.
For his part, Harris posted on Twitter on Wednesday a biographical video that began with Biden asking him to join his formula and echoed Biden's core message.
“We are in a battle for the soul of this nation. But together, it's a battle we can win, ”Harris said.
Following the speech, Biden and Harris will appear at an online fundraising event for small "grassroots" donors.
Whether and how the two can undertake the campaign, together or separately, remains to be seen. Next week's Democratic National Convention would normally begin a frenzied two-and-a-half-month contest until the Nov. 3 election, but the coronavirus pandemic has prevented Biden from campaigning. He spent all of July delivering weekly speeches, detailing the items on his financial agenda.
The last time Biden held a campaign rally - on March 9 in Detroit, on the eve of the Michigan primary - Harris appeared with him on stage, as the 77-year-old former vice president called himself a "bridge »Toward a new generation of Democratic leaders.
Joe BidenKamala Harris Democratic Party