The delegates will decide the next Democratic nominee as a groundswell forms for Harris

Joe Biden is out and, despite his quick endorsement of Kamala Harris, the fate of the Democratic Party’s presidential ticket is not for him to decide.

Democratic convention delegates are draining the political drama from Joe Biden’s decision to give up the presidential nomination by quickly coalescing around his chosen successor, Vice President Kamala Harris. The North Carolina and Tennessee delegations came out in unanimous support of Harris late Sunday. South Carolina Democrats also delivered a public vote of confidence. Harris’ swift ascent provides some rare good news for Democrats who have been agonizing over Biden’s fate for weeks. Biden’s endorsement has weight, but no formal bearing on the process. The makeup of ticket now rests with the roughly 4,700 delegates who will, in the coming weeks, vote for a new standard-bearer. Interviews with more than two dozen delegates in the immediate aftermath of Biden’s announcement suggest the vice president is the clear leader. Delegates pledged to Biden are under no obligation to support his choice, but their loyalty to him and his wishes suggests the lion’s share will quickly fall in line behind Harris. Many already have; some are now contacting other delegates, with no input yet from Harris’ campaign, to shore up her support. “Every one of us (delegates) were vetted and worked for Biden or the Biden campaign in some way, whether we volunteered or donated or something. These are all Biden people,” said Joe Caiazzo, a Biden delegate from Massachusetts who praised the president’s “selfless, patriotic” decision. What follows is less than certain – and unprecedented in modern political history.