The king is dead - long live the king. Or queen. On Sunday, Joe Biden finally stepped aside. Now a new candidate for US president steps forward: Vice PresidentIn the USA, the vice president can take over from the president if they are unable to run the country. Kamala Harris.

Yesterday, she became the presumptive DemocratA member of the Democratic party, the left-leaning US political party. nominee for president as nearly all rivals bowed out, securing enough delegates to win the nomination, though their votes won't be cast until early August.

A Harris presidency would break a lengthy list of records: first woman to become president, first president of South Asian heritage, second Black president.

But can she win? Harris inherits an economic miracle: last year the US economy grew by 3.3%, by far the highest rate in the G7A group made up of six of the world's major industrialised nations/advanced economies (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK) plus the EU. All of its current members are democracies. .¹ It also gained 2.7 million new jobs.²

Keep the Democrats in power, she will be able to tell voters, for more of this.

She may also be able to wipe the slate clean with the voters Biden alienatedFeeling isolated or no longer supported.: left-wingers and young people, especially those from ethnic minorities, who were put off by his support for Israel's war in GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. .

And at 59, she would be the youngest candidate put forward by either party since 2012. Simply ending the constant questions about Biden's age will give the Democrats a boost. Now 78-year-old Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025. may come under similar scrutiny.

And Harris will be better placed than Biden, who is thought to be privately opposed to abortion, to make the race about women's rights, a key Republican PartyAlso known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum. weakness.

But there are challenges too. US economic growth is slowing down. Moreover, there are signs that the economic miracle was uneven: among the poorest Americans, prices have risen faster and jobs have become more precariousUnpredictable; uncertain.. Debt is also rising among the least well-off.³

Trump is already appealing to those voters. His own pick for VP, JD Vance, crows that his party is "pro-worker".⁴ They might be able to peel them off to the Republican Party.

Some voters may see it as undemocratic that Harris was not picked by party members, but chosen by political elites.

For the last four years, Harris has been in charge of stopping illegal immigration. That leaves her vulnerable to one of Trump's favourite attack lines, that Democrats are soft on the border.

Finally, the key question: is the US ready to vote for a Black woman as president?

Can she defeat Donald Trump?

Yes: Harris is a former prosecutorSomeone who starts and runs a legal case against someone. up against the first convicted criminal to run for president. That is a compelling narrative that she can ride all the way to the White HouseThe official residence of the US president, in Washington DC. Burnt by British troops in 1814, it was rebuilt and painted white to hide the smoke stains..

No: Trump is looking increasingly unstoppable. Harris is a largely untested candidate with low approval ratings. This is a final throw of the dice for desperate Democrats.

Or... This election could still swing either way. What matters is the way Harris and Trump both campaign over the rest of the year. We probably will not know until election night itself.

FOR YOUR SUMMER READING CHALLENGE CLUE GO TO STEP SIX IN THE SIX STEPS TO DISCOVERY BELOW.

Vice president - In the USA, the vice president can take over from the president if they are unable to run the country.

Democrat - A member of the Democratic party, the left-leaning US political party.

G7 - A group made up of six of the world's major industrialised nations/advanced economies (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK) plus the EU. All of its current members are democracies.

Alienated - Feeling isolated or no longer supported.

Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.

Donald Trump - An American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025.

Republican Party - Also known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum.

Precarious - Unpredictable; uncertain.

Prosecutor - Someone who starts and runs a legal case against someone.

White House - The official residence of the US president, in Washington DC. Burnt by British troops in 1814, it was rebuilt and painted white to hide the smoke stains.