It would be best if Democrats chose their new presidential candidate in an open convention, with politicians debating, confronting each other on issues. But it is already too late. One uncontested candidate has already emerged.
After his tweet saying that he would drop out of the 2024 presidential race, Joe Biden was quick to endorse Kamala Harris (*1964) as his successor on X on July 21. Potential rivals of the current vice president followed in the president’s footsteps and endorsed Kamala Harris too, among them Governor Gavin Newsom (*1967) of California, Governor Josh Shapiro (*1973) of Pennsylvania, Governor Katie Hobbs (*1969) of Arizona and Governor Gretchen Whitmer (*1971) of Michigan. The former speaker of the House, coming from the state of California, Nancy Pelosi, as well as all 50 state Democratic party chairs have endorsed her too. The New York Senator and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and the minority House leader Hakeem Jeffries (*1970) from New York have praised Kamala Harris, but not endorsed her (yet) [added on July 23, 2024 at 21:20 Swiss time: Schumer and Jeffries have now officially endorsed Kamala Harris].
Nevertheless, just restarted, the race is already over. No major Democrat has come forward (yet) ready to confront Kamala Harris. Her nomination as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party by the 2024 Democratic National Convention looks like a formality.
The governors mentioned above were the most qualified Democrats for the top job because, unlike Kamala Harris, they have executive experience. The governors from swing states would in addition most likely have offered a victory in their state; the few swing state will decide the election. Kamala Harris comes from California, where the Democrats will win anyway.
Kamala Harris has worked as District Attorney of San Francisco from 2004 until 2011, as Attorney General of California from 2011 until 2017, as United States Senator representing the State of California from 2017 until 2021, and as Vice President of the United States under President Joe Biden from 2021 until now.
In short, Kamala Harris brings experience to the table, but not political executive experience. That is a handicap, as we have seen with President Barack Obama, whose foreign policy was quite disastrous.
In any case, Kamala Harris is the better candidate than former president Donald J. Trump, an old, incoherent man who tried to overturn the result of a free and fair election and, therefore, should be behind bars. The U.S. justice system has failed (so far). He is a convicted felon, but not (yet) for the major crime of trying to stay in the White House with the help of illegal means despite having been fired by the American voters.
Like so many Americans, Kamala Harris is a child of immigrants. The mother of Kamala Harris is a Tamil Indian biologist and breast cancer researcher, her father a Jamaican American economist of Afro-Jamaican ancestry. Her parents divorced when she was seven. She grew up with her sister and mother.
Kamala Harris personifies the successful integration of a family of immigrants although, as a child and teenager, she was confronted with racism. As an attorney, she dealt with cases of homocide, robbery, burglary and sexual assault, which makes her ideal to confront the notorious liar, convicted felon, misogynist and xenophobe Donald Trump.
The Republicans wanted to make age a major issue in the 2024 presidential race against Joe Biden. It will remain one because Kamala Harris is 59, Donald Trump 78. Trump is regularly incoherent, mixes up people, tells lies whenever his lips are moving. As a former prosecutor, Kamala Harris should be able to confront and expose Donald Trump.
After Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13, the road ahead looked very dark for Democrats. With Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing his VP Kamala Harris, it’s a whole new ballgame. The momentum seems to shift towards the Democrats.
[Added on July 23, 2024 at 15:04 Swiss time: AP and CNN confirm that Kamala Harris has already enough delegates to win the Democratic presidential nomination].
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Official portrait of Vice President Kamala Harris, 2021. Official White House photograph by Lawrence Jackson. Public domain.
Article added on July 22, 2024 at 21:35 Swiss time.
