In present-day America, a multitude of Democrats, all with varying views, are gravitating towards Kamala Harris, much like a parched wanderer in the desert who, upon surmounting a sand hill, is met with the sight of a promising oasis. His immediate thought isn’t to question whether it might be an illusion; he’s solely focused on reaching it.
Crucial events are unfolding rapidly. There are fewer than a hundred days left until the presidential election. Since Joe Biden’s resignation less than a fortnight ago, Harris has already amassed $200 million in contributions, a staggering 66% of which came from donors making their inaugural contribution, and the money keeps pouring in. On a factual note – though facts appear to hold less weight these days – Harris requires a minimum of 1976 delegate votes from the Democratic convention for the presidential nomination, though this now seems more like a certainty than a requisite.
When it comes to considering this frantic race to be “orderly and transparent,” one must indeed be pragmatic. An impressive 78% of Democrats have decided they want Harris as their representative, and 61% are hoping to avoid any rival contenders. Vocal endorsements have already emerged from the likes of Nancy Pelosi, both Obamas and even George Clooney. A frenzy of hope and excitement is taking hold of the Democrats; they genuinely believe there’s a possibility.
Balancing out this feverish optimism is the fact that Harris represents an intimidating uncertainty for the Republican party, a quality that Republicans, and particularly Donald Trump, abhor. Uncertainty stirs fear in him, making him more susceptible to outbursts of absurd and counterproductive campaign bluster and disdain likely to cost him the election. In comparison to Harris, Trump’s tired, bloated, and unkind demeanour dramatically stands out – and not in a good way. It’s a stark contrast to being just another undesirable old man vying for presidency. The Democrats are eager to bring this face-off to the debating stage, confident Harris will outshine him effortlessly.
But let’s pause to acknowledge a slightly less optimistic perspective. A seasoned Republican insider pointed out that a historic shooting incident in Pennsylvania involving candidate Trump, the details and timeline of which have become hazy, essentially guaranteed his victory. By this peculiar reasoning, anything that doesn’t bring you down, seemingly, makes you the president. As dubious as it was, it did seem to ring true. It was a realisation that filled me with a haunting sense of unreality, the horrifying worst-case scenario was about to unfold and I admit, it led me to entertain some rather grim notions.
The current state of disillusionment and confusion within the Democratic party is having a profound effect, compounded by its decision not to phase the increasingly weak Biden out of the presidential race much earlier. This mirrors an odd sense of reality, not unlike a Lewis Carroll novel. There’s a growing belief that Harris could indeed win, although I find myself caught up in this misconception as I breathe the same air.
Without question, Harris’s path to victory won’t be a walk in the park. The rapid unconventional push towards her crowning may arguably be the only chance she has at nomination. Let’s not forget she was a losing presidential candidate in 2020, and her uninspiring campaign failed to resonate with voters. It’s also rumoured, though likely false, that Harris struggles to retain her staff due to a perceived lack of charm.
The ridiculous conviction that black, female candidates can’t be elected still breeds, even among some Democratic voters. The unfounded ‘America is not ready’ myth is entirely erroneous. America is assuredly ready.
Furthermore, Harris’s Californian roots set her apart from places like Michigan or Pennsylvania. Her three years as Biden’s largely overlooked vice-president does her no favours, and given his reluctance to step down, she’s running out of time to present her fresh case to the US electorate. She’s far from a certainty.
And that’s just the beginning. The Republicans will undoubtedly get ready to launch their birtherism, barrage her with baseless DEI slanders, spread misinformation relating to border-czar, and use any other slanderous tactics orchestrated by Steve Bannon and Alex Jones, fuelled by their pure antipathy, nihilistic attitudes and possible mental instability.
In spite of the prevailing conditions, the Democrats possess strong capacities that, should Biden takes a step back, could potentially catapult them to victory this November. Indeed, the nation’s unity is seriously challenged regarding the right path and leadership. Yet, as voters’ reliance on ideology and underlying values continues to wane, Trump remains appealing only to fervent MAGA devotees. Moreover, when compared to the vibrant, unyieldingly prosecutorial Harris, he is unlikely to outshine her on stage.
Furthermore, the Biden-Harris administration has an impressive track record. Their triumphs, ranging from infrastructure funding, helping navigate the female reproductive rights dispute, handling the pandemic recovery, implementing student loan forgiveness to drafting environmental and healthcare legislation, gives Harris an edge in claiming these achievements. Although, it’s important to note, the situation at the southern border still poses a considerable challenge. Republicans will inevitably attempt to point the finger at her for the continuing debacle.
However, Harris has the potential to enlighten the American public – barring the extremists – the border crisis is a predicament that both political parties have struggled with and, at its core, is a stubborn geographical and ethical issue that no party might fully resolve, except through inebriated tavern chatter where all problems suddenly become tractable.
It’s also worth acknowledging that even amidst fierce Republican reproval, potential lack of full support from the Democrats and accepting Harris’s own shortcomings, there is a broad swath of Americans eager to cast their vote for anyone but Donald Trump. It is not pure approval or personal agendas that drive our voting choices. Rather, it’s the expectation that the chosen candidate, informed not only by history and philosophical loyalty, but also by a newly forged personal dimension, will act responsibly, pursue the nation’s best interests and respond to new challenges with novel solutions and vision. This willingness and ability to adapt might never be unveiled or even exist without the high-pitched debate that our nation thrives upon.
Now is the time for Harris to prove herself capable of such evolution and leverage it to advance her mission. Frankly, our nation is in desperate need of it.
Therefore, in a nutshell, I am saying that there’s a possibility of victory in sight. Richard Ford, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and short story writer, concurs on this account.