Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Take on the US Presidential Election as a Team

President Donald Trump poured scorn on Biden's announcement, saying he was "surprised" at his choice given what Trump called Harris's lackluster performance in the Democratic nomination race.

Read also: Democrats and Republicans Unamused by Trump’s US Election Delay Plans

"She did very poorly in the primaries," Trump told reporters at the White House. "And that's like a poll."

He went on to attack Harris for her role in the bruising confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, calling her "the meanest, the most horrible, the most disrespectful of anybody in the US Senate."

But Harris, who beat out nearly a dozen other women to become the running mate, has shown she can parry such blows, a cherished quality for anyone facing an onslaught of negativity from a caustic president.

Biden's pick of Harris drew ringing endorsements from other quarters — including from Barack Obama, America's first black commander in chief.

"She is more than prepared for the job," tweeted Trump's predecessor. "This is a good day for our country. Now let's go win this thing."

Trailblazer

Harris has been a barrier-breaker for much of her career.

Her parents were immigrants to the United States — her father from Jamaica, her mother from India.