BBC reports that when Kamala Harris takes the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week as the party’s presidential nominee, she will do so with the knowledge that many in the audience who are cheering her on once doubted her abilities. Despite facing skepticism from within her own party, including from President Joe Biden, Harris has seen a surge of enthusiasm since becoming the Democratic nominee in mid-July.
Harris, who previously struggled to gain traction in her short-lived 2019 presidential bid and faced challenges during her vice-presidency, has since sharpened her political skills and gained credibility on key issues within the Democratic Party. As she officially accepts the Democratic nomination on Thursday, Harris has the opportunity to reintroduce herself to the nation with less than 80 days until the election, where she could potentially become the first female president of the United States.
While Harris has made significant strides in building support within her party, she still faces the challenge of proving her ability to lead a party that has been divided on certain issues. Additionally, she must dispel any remaining doubts among Democratic voters that she can defeat former President Donald Trump in what continues to be a closely contested and unpredictable race.
Before becoming a national figure, Harris had established herself as a rising star within the Democratic Party, earning the endorsement of former President Barack Obama in her 2010 campaign for California attorney general. Despite some controversy surrounding her record as a prosecutor and attorney general, Harris was elected to the US Senate in 2016. She gained attention for her direct questioning of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings in 2018.
Harris’s previous presidential campaign faced challenges in defining her political identity and ultimately ended before the primaries began. However, her impactful debate moment challenging Joe Biden’s record on desegregation briefly boosted her candidacy. Despite these initial setbacks, Harris’s selection as Biden’s running mate demonstrates her ability to overcome obstacles and position herself for a potential historic victory in the upcoming election. The first woman of colour to ever be nominated in that position, in January 2021, became the first female vice-president in US history.
Five months into her role as Mr Biden’s vice-president, Ms Harris faced her first public stumble during a foreign trip to Guatemala and Mexico. The trip was intended to showcase her efforts in pursuing economic initiatives to reduce the flow of migrants from Central America to the US southern border. However, an awkward exchange in an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt where she avoided questions about visiting the US-Mexico border overshadowed the trip.
Critics attacked her handling of the immigration issue, with some blaming the White House for not adequately preparing her for the role. Despite facing high staff turnover, negative headlines, and underwhelming media appearances, Ms Harris sought to improve her public image by taking on a larger foreign policy role.
In May 2022, a leaked draft opinion revealed plans to overturn the Roe v Wade abortion ruling, prompting Ms Harris to become the lead messenger on the issue. This stance helped Democrats perform better than expected in the midterm elections and hold the Senate.
Ms Harris, eyeing a potential 2028 bid for the White House, focused on coalition-building and strategic political engagement to bolster her position. Despite doubts about her ability to succeed Mr Biden, he surprised many by endorsing her as his successor in July. Durante el transcurso de 10 horas ese domingo, llamó a más de 100 funcionarios del partido, miembros del Congreso, líderes sindicales y activistas. En cuestión de días, cualquier rival potencial, incluidos los poderosos gobernadores, se alinearon y quedó claro que ella tomaría el manto demócrata sin un desafío serio.
Harris ha unido rápidamente al Partido Demócrata detrás de ella, mientras ella y su compañero de fórmula, Tim Walz, construyen impulso.
Como candidata, la vicepresidenta aún no ha presentado una agenda política detallada o se ha sentado para una entrevista difícil con los medios. Publicó un plan económico el viernes, que pedía recortes de impuestos para las familias y un impulso más amplio para limitar los precios de los medicamentos, su visión más detallada para el país hasta ahora.
Incluso cuando los republicanos la acusan de evitar el escrutinio, el equipo a su alrededor no ve prisa en frenar el impulso que ha construido en el último mes. Estrategas políticos dicen que la campaña está en lo correcto al capitalizar la “subida de azúcar”.
“Lo que Kamala Harris está experimentando es una demanda masiva y reprimida de personas que quieren votar por cualquiera que no sea Biden o Trump”, dijo el Sr. Madden, el ex asistente de Romney y estratega de comunicaciones republicano. “Pero la prueba siempre viene al exponerse a entrevistas, la prensa, debates y la intensa luz de una campaña”.
Douglas Brinkley, un historiador presidencial que ayudó a organizar una reunión de historiadores en la residencia oficial de la Sra. Harris el año pasado, dijo que el hecho de que ella haya sido una pizarra en blanco para los votantes es más un beneficio que una carga.
“Ella puede no haber podido florecer completamente bajo Biden, pero nunca cruzó espadas con él”, dijo. “Así que pudo posicionarse para este momento y puede tomar lo bueno de los años de Biden y deshacerse de la carga de lo que ella quiere, o está un poco en desacuerdo”.
Aunque su entrada ha provocado un gran apoyo entre los demócratas, no está claro si podrá traducir eso en un amplio atractivo. Si bien Harris ha avanzado con algunos grupos demográficos clave que se alejaron de Biden, como los votantes negros, latinos y jóvenes en particular, se rezaga en otros sectores que conformaron su coalición ganadora en 2020.
Las encuestas recientes la sitúan por delante o empatada con Trump en seis de los siete estados de campo de batalla, según la encuesta del Cook Political Report publicada el miércoles. En mayo, Trump estaba por delante o empatado en los siete estados. The British Broadcasting Corporation, also known as the BBC,