by Vivek Mishra * – Observer Research Foundation, OtherNews
As the United States (US) presidential election nears, battle lines between the Republicans and Democrats have been drawn not just along political and ideological divides, but they are also geared to fight for an era-defining change that both sides have sought. The Democrats have characterised the 2024 election as a battle for the soul of the nation. The Republicans have launched their project 2025, which is based on the idea that merely winning the 2025 national election may not be sufficient, instead what is needed is to save America from the grip of the ‘radical Left’. Just when the Democrat versus Republican divide, represented by Biden and Trump respectively, appeared to be the ultimate symbolism encapsulating the great American divide, Biden withdrew from the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris instead. The decision came as a surprise, especially as Biden had promised to stay in the race just hours before the decision was announced despite growing pressure to quit from his party. Most of all, Biden disclosed his decision to his staff just minutes before his announcement.
The decision has catapulted Vice President Kamala Harris to the presidential race. Suddenly, the Democratic party has to scramble to tether their support around Harris and boost her chances of beating Donald Trump. Before her public endorsement, Kamala was not perceived as a strong nominee to replace Biden, and her candidacy remained shrouded in criticism for her handling of certain portfolios like immigration and gun control. However, within hours, she has secured the support of key Democrats, including six Governors.
Kamala Harris has been thrust into the presidential race, which she now seems to have embraced. In her first public appearance after her endorsement, she began her speech with a fitting tribute to Biden’s legacy. Harris faces a multitude of challenges, and how she addresses them will likely define the course of her presidential campaign and the election outcome. She has crossed the first hurdle by securing enough delegates to be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. Harris has the advantage of being a Black woman candidate who is nearly two decades younger than her opponent. The Democrats have suddenly turned the tables on the Republicans in the age debate when it comes to the presidential nominees. American and global boredom with a presidential race between two aged white males has also ended.
Going into the presidential race, Harris has the advantage of not slipping far behind Donald Trump. She only marginally trailed Trump in the post June 27 debate polls. Within the Democratic party as well, Kamala Harris leads the polls when compared to other possible candidates such as Gavin Newsom, Michelle Obama and Pete Buttigieg. In terms of next steps, one of her immediate challenges is to choose a running mate, as early voting in some states is set to begin in September. The Democratic pair will not only have to tide over intra-party competition and politics but also match the counter-potential of the Trump-Vance duo.
Campaign planks for Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris brings new vigour to the Democratic Party’s campaign, potentially winning back voters who were estranged by Biden as a candidate. Most importantly, she uniquely emphasises key issues in the US elections-abortion, immigration, race, gun control, and youth. In an era where America’s most crucial election is being fought amidst a simmering culture war, uniting Black voters, women, and youth could be Kamala’s single biggest advantage in this election.
Kamala’s campaign is expected to focus on Trump’s weaknesses and her strengths, mostly revolving around basic issues that the Democrats have traditionally supported. On the issue of abortion, Kamala could pitch herself as a champion of the pro-choice movement, consolidating the votes of the young and of women. She has positioned herself to protect abortion rights across the nation, thereby strongly backing a reinstituting of the Roe v Wade judgement, which was overturned in 2022. To her advantage, Kamala transcends the personal discomfort that Joe Biden had with the issue of abortion, being a practicing Catholic himself.
On the issue of climate change, which could indeed guide many of the foreign policy decisions, Kamala Harris stands diametrically opposed to Donald Trump. In her policy position on climate change, she has underscored the theme of environmental justice, deftly merging the issues of climate, race and gender, highlighting the adverse impact that climate change especially has on women of colour. Her time as Vice President was also central to the fight for voting rights in the US, especially in her focus on fighting voting restrictions in Republican states. Racial justice is something that Harris is likely to pitch up high in her campaign, having been closely associated with the Justice in Policing Act in the aftermath of the infamous George Floyd incident in 2022.
The Trump-Vance campaign will likely focus on Harris’ performance under the Biden administration, and they will place emphasis on the notion that she is an accidental nominee rather than a naturally-chosen one. The Trump campaign is expected to double down on the fissures in the Biden administration’s immigration policies, in which Harris played a central role.
Should the Democrats win the November elections, Kamala Harris will face the challenge of emerging from the shadows of her relatively muted role as Vice President. As she enters the US presidential race, it may initially seem advantageous for Trump, but Harris brings fresh dimensions to the contest, making it one of the most intriguing presidential races in US history.
On the cover photo, US’s Vice President Kamala Harris ©Iev radin/Shutterstock.com
* Vivek Mishra is a Fellow with the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation
