VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS (Shutterstock).

Declaring that the 2024 presidential election – presumably between Donald Trump and likely Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris – was a choice between “freedom” and “chaos,” Harris held her first rally for the White House on Tuesday.

Speaking in the swing state of Wisconsin, she said, “In this campaign, I promise you, I will proudly put my record against his any day of the week. We believe in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by, but to get ahead.’

She has recently rounded up enough delegate support to be officially named the Democratic candidate at the convention in August.

Harris has picked up support from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and fund-raising efforts are reported to have raised $100 million.

In a related development, President Joe Biden will address the nation on Wednesday to speak on his decision to end his re-election campaign.

Sen. Bob Menendez will resign

SEN. BOB MENENDEZ (D-New Jersey).

After a conviction on bribery charges, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) will resign from Congress, effective in late August.

He was facing an effort by the Senate Ethics Committee to expel him. Instead, he will be replaced by an appointee of Gov. Philip Murphy, also a Democrat, who will serve until January.

In a letter to Murphy, Menendez said his presence in the Senate would muddle efforts to clear his name.

It’s still possible he may seek to run for reelection as an independent.

Menendez was found guilty of 16 federal crimes on July 16 as part of a bribery operation that included selling his political influence for money and interfering with criminal trials on behalf of friends.

Secret Service director resigns

One day after refusing Congressional calls for her to resign, U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle announced on Tuesday that she was going to step down.

Referring to the attempted assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump, she said – in an e-mail – “I take full responsibility for the security lapse. In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.”

She had been berated for the organization’s failure to protect the Republican presidential candidate by allowing a shooter to set up within the distance of a football field – an easy shot for a good marksman – of Trump, who was wounded in his right ear.

The would-be assassin – Thomas Matthew Crooks – was killed by Secret Service counter-sniper fire.

Weather: Hot and then cool-ish

As predicted earlier, our West Orange County cities will heat up and then cool off towards the weekend. The forecast calls for the heat to rise to a daytime high of 88 on Wednesday (with an overnight low of 67) under sunny skies.

The warmth will peak to 89 (67)  on Thursday under sunny skies. But Friday will see a decline in heat to 84  (68) as warmer temps begin to set in, also with partly cloudy skies. On Saturday the thermometer will sink to 80 (63)