Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden praised his newly nominated vice-presidential pick Kamala Harris to be smart, tough and a proven fighter for the country’s middle class on Wednesday. 

Biden, while making his first public appearance with Harris, said that both of them are ready to get to work in rebuilding America and a better future for its people, reported PTI. 

He said, “Kamala, as you all know is smart. She’s tough. She’s experienced. She’s a proven fighter for the backbone of this country, the middle class, for all those who are struggling to get into the middle class. Kamala knows how to govern.”

Biden added, “She knows how to make the hard calls. She’s ready to do this job on day one. And we’re both ready to get to work rebuilding this nation and building a better.”

The Democrat presidential candidate made history on Tuesday as he picked 55-year-old Harris as his vice presidential running mate. She is the first black woman to compete on a major party’s presidential ticket.

Biden said, “Yesterday we had our best grassroots funds raising day of the campaign, more than double our previous record. And in doing so, we set a single day record for online political fundraising, and I think I know why.”

Following the announcement, Biden was able to raise $26 million for his presidential campaign in the 24 hours. “This morning, all across the nation little girls woke up, especially the black and brown girls who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities, but today just maybe they’re seeing themselves for the first time in a new way, as the stuff of a president and vice presidents,” said Biden. 

According to Biden, Harris talked about the 3:00 am struggle which is about moms and dads awake late at night in their kitchens, worried, scared, uncertain about how they were going to take care of their families, about how they’re going to pay the bills, about how they were going to make it, simply make it. 

Biden said, “Growing up in Scranton and Claymont, Delaware, I saw that struggle with my family as well. Kamala saw it with hers as well. And millions of Americans are living that struggle as we speak, especially in this moment of crisis, especially with so many jobs lost.”

Biden said that being a child of immigrants, Harris can relate to how immigrant families enrich the country, as well as the challenges of what it means to grow up black and Indian American in the United States of America. 

“Her story is America’s story, different from mine in many particulars, but also not so different in the essentials. She has worked hard. She’s never backed down from a challenge, and she has earned each and every of the accolades and achievements that she has gained, many of them often in the face of obstacles that others put in her way, but never quit,” he said.