The US Vice President Kamala Harris looks to be an emerging political threat to the former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump in November’s presidential race. Harris is presumed to be the definite nominee of Democrats in August and is also proving smarter and mentally sharper than her challenger. She is taken as an energizer for her party’s relatively decreasing fame and a filler for gaps that President Joe Biden’s debate created. How Mr. Trump meets this evolving challenge is a challenge for him.
According to the results of the latest polls that the AP conducted, some 56% of registered voters agreed with a statement that Harris, 59, is mentally sharp and capable of meeting and dealing with the challenges the US was currently facing. In this comparison, Donald Trump’s position stood at 49%. Harris is also 19 years younger than Trump. President Biden who has quit this race received only 22% of votes.
Biden, 81, ended his reelection effort after a debate with Trump in which he often stammered and failed to challenge attacks by Trump that included falsehoods aggressively. This poor performance and age factor generated much opposition within his party ranks. Biden, now showing recovery signs from COVID-19, couldn’t sustain this pressure, and announcing his withdrawal endorsed Ms. Harris in his place. He declared his exit in the best interest of the US, the people of his country, and the democracy of America.
Three-quarters of the respondents agreed with a statement that the party and voters should get behind Harris now, with only a quarter saying multiple candidates should compete for the party’s nomination. When voters in the survey were shown a hypothetical ballot that included independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Harris led Trump 42% to 38%, an advantage outside the margin of error.
Kennedy, favored by 8% of voters in the poll, has yet to qualify for the ballot in many states ahead of the election. Harris campaigning in a key state – Wisconsin – yesterday won support from major party figures and attention has since turned to who she will pick as her running mate. She attacked Trump with words, “Donald Trump wants to take our country backward, to a time before many of our fellow Americans had full freedoms and rights.” She said if Mr. Trump is re-elected, he would give tax breaks to big corporations, cut Social Security and Medicare, weaken the middle class, and reduce access to health care. “They do not lead to prosperity. They lead to inequity and economic injustice,” she added said Mr. Trump’s agenda, prompting loud applause in the room. We are not going back and You’re not taking us back.”
Trump’s campaign views the increase in Harris’ support and popularity as temporary calling it the result of extensive media coverage of her candidacy. Harris is set to become her Party’s nominee after she has secured the support of 2,668 delegates against 1,976 required, the poll said. She spoke of her plans to attack Trump in a campaign speech, referring to her past of pursuing “predators” and “fraudsters” as San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general. “So, hear me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type,” she said of her rival, a convicted felon who was found liable for sexual assault in a civil court. Her campaign collected a record $81 million in its first 24 hours, while 28,000 new volunteers registered to help with her election.
The chair of the Democratic National Committee said the party will deliver a presidential nominee by August 7, while the AP reported that the Democrats are planning to hold a virtual roll call in which delegates can choose a presidential nominee before they meet in person next month in Chicago. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate in his first rally brandied Harris as a “million times worse” than Biden and accused her of lying about his capacity to serve as president. On the other hand, several state delegations met late Monday to confirm their support for Harris, including Texas and her home state of California.
California state Democratic Chairman Rusty Hicks said 75% to 80% of the state’s delegation unanimously supported Harris. In a statement, Harris said, “I am grateful to President Biden and everyone in the Democratic Party who has already put their faith in me, and I look forward to taking our case directly to the American people.” She inherits 1,000 staffers and a war chest that stood at nearly $96 million at the end of June and she added $81 million to that total in the first 24 hours after Biden’s endorsement.
Big names like Governors Wes Moore of Maryland, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Andy Beshear of Kentucky have endorsed Harris. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said she was lending her “enthusiastic support” to Harris’ effort to lead the party. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled in Aug. The convention’s rules committee would meet this week to finalize its nomination.
It is important to note that the AFL-CIO, which represents 12.5 million unionized workers, has endorsed Harris for president. “From day one Kamala Harris was seen a true partner in leading the most pro-labor administration in history,” said the AFL-CIO president, Liz Shuler. “With Kamala Harris in the White House, together we’ll continue to build on the powerful legacy of the Biden-Harris administration to create good union jobs, grow the labor movement, and make our economy work for all of us.”
Renowned actor Mark Hamill praised Ms. Harris as “the candidate who will both honor and further legacy. Singer John Legend posted a message stating “so ready to elect Kamala Harris as our President.” “She’s ready for this fight and I’m excited to help her any way I can,” he said. The screen and stage actor Wendell Pierce said “I’m joining millions of Americans for supporting and endorsing the nomination of Kamala Harris as President of the United States.” Writer Aaron Sorkin said, “Harris for America!” Renowned comedian Rosie O’Donnell expressed her support for Harris. actress Jamie Lee Curtis said “Numbers too big to ignore Harris” “Women. Minorities. LGBTQ+IA. We still have a CHOICE with Kamala Harris. TRUSTED. TESTED. TOUGH.” Jon Stewart, the late-night host termed Harris a “Legend.” Hillary Clinton calls Harris “a fresh start for American politics.”
A group of more than 700 alumni of Biden’s 2020 campaign have signed a letter to support Harris’ candidacy. “We will work, organize, and do all we can to ensure Vice President Harris wins in November,” it said.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund, an advocacy arm of the nonprofit Planned Parenthood Federation of America has recommended Harris. Alexis McGill Johnson, the president of both organizations said in a statement. “We just can’t talk enough about what it means at this moment to have Harris representing at the top of the ticket. She is incredible and invaluable.” The fundraisers announced that 45,000 Black women raised $1.5 million in three hours for Harris’ presidential campaign, and 21,000 Black men contributed $1.3 million during a virtual live fundraising event yesterday.
Rep. Katherine Clark says no “backroom deal-making in Harris’ quick ascent.” House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts was reported saying, “Democrats are excited and energized to make Harris the party’s presidential nominee.” “This is not a backroom deal-making. This is about that we have the best candidate to defend our Constitution, defend our freedom, and build an economy that works for us in the light of the real danger of Donald Trump.” Steve Kornacki: Harris’ campaign could draw undecided voters off the fence — in both directions.” Merged polling from the NBC News poll — combining responses from surveys conducted in January, April, and July before Biden’s exit — shows Harris not only flooded with these swing voters in terms of her popularity but also with lower net scores than Biden has. More voters don’t yet register a strong opinion of her, so those numbers could change as the public side of her campaign gets going in earnest.
The nation’s largest youth voter group’s PAC has endorsed Harris for president. NextGen PAC President Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez said in a statement, “From protecting abortion access and care, to supporting climate justice, economic justice, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ rights, Vice President Harris represents the diversity, vision, and values of young Americans.” “Young people remain committed to turning out in force and defeating MAGA extremism and the existential threat of Trump’s Project 2025, and we are proud to join Vice President Harris in this fight,” she said. Harris became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the oldest historically Black sorority, in 1986 when she was a student at Howard University.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will endorse Harris today. Oscar-winning actor and prolific Democratic donor George Clooney praised and endorsed Harris in a statement. “We’re all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris in her historic quest.” Meanwhile, former president Trump feels excited and says he’s excited to debate Harris, calling debates “a great way of exposing people.” “It’s a great way of finding whether or not — No. 1 — whether or not they’re capable, and also their ideas.” The Trump campaign has also filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing Harris, Biden, and others of violating campaign finance laws.
Trump said he would “absolutely” commit to debating Harris and is open to having multiple debates. “Oh, yes. I’d want to,” he said during a Republican National Committee. “Well, I haven’t agreed to anything. I agreed to debate with Joe Biden,” Trump said later on the call. “But I want to debate her, and she’ll be no different because they have the same policies.” In an interview, Democratic FEC member Dara Lindenbaum said there was no violation of election laws because Harris’ name was already included in the original paperwork filed with the commission. The Harris campaign is considering Kentucky Gov.
Andy Beshear is a possible running mate of Harris. However, now one important thing is how Ms. Harris responds to Israel’s aggression in Palestine. Biden lost the support of Arab Americans over his support of Israel. Biden 2020 won the presidential election with the vote of voters in the key US states. This vote was reduced from 80 to just 20 percent. Kamala Harris is expected to have a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu and her stance over the Gaza war can help her win or lose this vote bank in the six swing states.
(Senior journalist Rana Kashif has authored this piece)
