President Joe Biden is out and Democrats are now chanting Vice President Kamala Harris’s name.

Taking a page from the Republicans unifying around former President Donald Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, the Democratic Party quickly united behind Harris and secured the necessary delegate pledges to secure her nomination. That came mere days after Biden announced he no longer planned to run for re-election.

Harris already had a planned visit to Milwaukee, but as the vice presidential candidate. Instead, the event became her first official campaign stop as a candidate for president.

“Hello, Wisconsin! Do we have Milwaukee in the house today?” asked Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

“Oh, the energy is high,” observed Milwaukee resident Julie Landry.

A special summertime pep rally — it’s playing center court on July 23, 2024, inside the Bulldogs gymnasium at West Allis Central High School.

A crowd cheers for Vice President and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris during a rally at West Allis Central High School on July 23, 2024. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

“I think her saying that she’s going to run has re-energized the party,” Landry added.

“This is the land of Kamala Harris!” Wikler declared.

“She’s ready to prosecute the case against Donald Trump,” said Wisconsin Superintendent of Instruction Jill Underly, a Democrat, to the audience at the rally.

Surrounded by tight Secret Service protection, the rally has presidential implications.

“And we are united around Kamala,” said Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, another Democrat.

People in the stands like Landry know it.

“She brings experience. She brings excellence. She brings commitment. She brings dedication. She brings intelligence. She brings energy. She brings hope,” Landry said.

“She can continue the work that Biden has done so far in the past four years,” said New Berlin resident Paul McCreary. “Continue to build on the economy that he’s kind of set a good baseline for, and really take us to new places.”

Many at the rally say they’ve come to see history in the making as Harris declares game on in her sudden run for the White House.

“For me and my age, to see a woman on that podium running for president means everything to me,” said Madison resident Andrea O’Brien.”

“So, are you with me to roll up your sleeves and elect Kamala Harris?” asked Godlewski while flanked between Wisconsin and American flags, only days since the 2024 Republican National Convention was held less than eight miles away.

Harris comes to the suburban Milwaukee community with the support of some union groups, as well as many national Democratic Party officials and Wisconsin Democrats.

“I have a simple question for you. Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States?’ asked Democratic Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul at the rally.

Some of the state’s top liberals welcomed Harris with their endorsements, and they want Wisconsinites and the nation to do the same.

“There’s a reason that she’s kicking things off right here in Wisconsin — because we are the battleground state,” said Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is running for re-election in 2024 against Republican challenger Eric Hovde.

“Yesterday I joined my favorite Midwestern governors — J.B. Pritzker, Gretchen Whitmer and Tim Walz — to announce that I am all in,” said Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. “Kamala Harris!”

In this first campaign stop of her 2024 presidential bid, Harris gots an energized welcome from an enthusiastic crowd of about 3,000 supporters.

Like the earlier speakers, Harris thanked President Joe Biden, who withdrew from the election only 48 hours before this event.

“Joe’s legacy of accomplishment over his entire career and over the past three-and-a-half years, is unmatched in modern history,” Harris said.

With a hint of her campaign slogan, Harris made her case against former president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

“Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare. He intends to give tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations and make working families foot the bill. They intend to end the Affordable Care Act,” she said.

With childhood ties in nearby Madison, Harris told the crowd she knows the path to the presidency cuts through West Allis and all of Wisconsin.

“So Wisconsin, today, I ask you, are you ready to get to work? Do we believe in freedom? Do we believe in opportunity? Do we believe in the promise of America? And are we ready to fight for it? And when we fight, we win,” she said.

Kamala Harris, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, speaks at West Allis Central High School on July 23, 2024. “So Wisconsin, today, I ask you, are you ready to get to work? Do we believe in freedom? Do we believe in opportunity? Do we believe in the promise of America? And are we ready to fight for it? And when we fight, we win,” Harris said. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

As Harris wrapped up her visit, just outside the gymnasium a huge Trump flag flew high as a handful of his supporters lined the streets — a reminder that the 2024 race for president has become Team Trump versus Team Harris.

Editor’s note: This video report is corrected with updated graphics showing accurate spellings of Sarah Godlewski’s and Ben Wikler’s names.