Kamala Harris is currently facing significant competition within the Democratic Party, notably from Barack Obama, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Representatives Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi. This group wields considerable influence in the party’s internal dynamics. They were instrumental in orchestrating Joe Biden’s decision not to seek reelection, and now they are vying to select the presidential candidate who will run against Donald Trump in the upcoming elections on November 5.
Understanding the intricacies of this political landscape, Harris spent an impressive ten hours on the phone recently, working to push back against the internal pressure from Obama, Schumer, Jeffries, and Pelosi. These efforts aim to maintain the momentum of her candidacy, which initially enjoyed the support of Biden, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton.
Harris has achieved a notable milestone in her campaign by garnering the backing of governors, senators, representatives, union leaders, and civil rights activists. She has raised nearly $50 million and has successfully sidelined competitors such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who eventually endorsed her candidacy.
With Biden’s previous campaign infrastructure at her disposal, Harris is making her official campaign launch at the White House. Scheduled for 11:30 AM Eastern Time, she will appear in the South Lawn to honor the U.S. women’s basketball championship team. Due to COVID-19, Biden will be listening to Harris’s speech from his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Having navigated the first phase of her campaign by consolidating party support and preventing fragmentation, Harris is now turning her attention to choosing a potential vice presidential running mate. This decision is crucial as the selected partner needs to appeal to independent voters who could make a difference in tightly contested states.
Harris is in search of a candidate who can connect with working-class Americans, Hispanics, Black voters, and young people, especially those disenchanted with the Democratic Party due to Biden’s support for Israel amidst its conflict with Hamas. The chosen candidate must also secure significant support in key states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where elections can be won or lost.
On the other hand, Trump has J.D. Vance, a lawyer from Ohio who resonates with lower middle-class workers seeking upward mobility. His bestselling book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” emphasizes that anyone can achieve success, including gaining admission to Yale from a small American town.
Harris’s background as a Black woman aligned with the left wing of the Democratic Party has led to some pushback, particularly from Hispanic voters, following her struggles with immigration policy implementation under Biden. Consequently, she must select a running mate who can mitigate her weaknesses.
Among the candidates being considered are Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Both could secure votes in critical districts, but having two female candidates on the ticket might be less likely, as gender dynamics can significantly influence voter behavior.
The Democratic National Convention is set to take place in Chicago on August 19, with the presidential elections only 106 days away. Harris has already amassed a campaign fund of $96 million and is closely monitoring the political moves of Obama and other key allies.
Should Harris secure the nomination and face Trump in a presidential debate, she may have an unexpected argument to draw voters away from him—Trump donated a total of $12,000 to her campaign when she first ran for Attorney General of California in 2011 and 2013, leading to her eventual victory in that election.
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