Kamala Harris might have been humming an old classic by Ray Charles about Georgia as she journeyed back to storm-stricken Washington D.C. on a Thursday night. Her intensive two-day trek via bus across the Peach State, facing intense scrutiny, felt like an extension of the Democratic National Convention. Crafted with finesse and disguised as a more spontaneous event, the tour was reminiscent of a simpler political era, with Harris’s bus winding its breezy trail through rural landscapes synonymous with former president Jimmy Carter, pausing informally at local diners and barbecue establishments.
Her campaign was a resounding victory at a time when Trump’s campaign was entangled in a controversy involving Arlington cemetery’s conservators. As per a Bloomberg poll unveiled on Thursday night, the Republicans are losing against the Harris-Walz partnership in six out of seven key states, standing neck to neck in Arizona, with Harris leading 49/47 in Georgia.
This marked the first campaign visit by Democrats to the state since Bill Clinton’s visit in 1992. Despite the rain, a massive crowd anticipated her rally at the Enmarket Arena in Savannah, a place known for its unrivalled antebellum construction, hours in advance. The team had already visited Dottie Markes, Sandfly Bar-b-q, and Liberty County high school. All that was left was striking a pose at the iconic Forrest Gump filming locales. Georgia was relishing the spotlight.
Mayor Van Johnson stated, “Georgia is the conduit to the White house, particularly Savannah and the coastline.” He mentioned that Harris’s last visit was in February, never in the state’s 291-year history had they hosted a president or a vice president twice in a single year, let alone a span of six months.
Earlier on Thursday, Harris along with running mate Tim Walz, captured their first meaningful interview after Harris replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate. The interview was aired live at 9pm, from Kim’s Café.
In an unsurprising turn of events, the hour-long interview with Dana Bash, hosted by CNN, went off without a hitch. As usual, plenty of media buzz surrounded this event, treated almost like an extraordinary space mission. One critique, however, was Harris’s decision to include Walz in the discussions. This was arguably a strategic political manoeuvre, as the Democrats aim to embed Walz’s presence in the public consciousness, much like their intention with Harris herself.
Harris’s primary responsibility was to ensure her statements didn’t provide ammunition for the Republicans, who could ignite controversies in the run-up to elections. Despite her competent performance, the discourse hinted at potential future areas of conflict.
Harris pledged that her government’s commencement would usher in an ‘opportunity economy.’ As a part of this, she proposed reducing the prices of daily commodities, bolstering America’s small enterprises, extending a $6,000 tax credit for the first six years of a child’s life, and making housing affordable. Regardless, such assurances don’t dismiss the probable critique that a reign under Harris would simply prolong ‘Bidenomics’, with its startling inflation and crippling costs impacting average domestic budgets.
When questioned about her stance on fracking – a key industry in Pennsylvania – Harris firmly stated that she has realized it feasible to carry on with this practice. She underscored, “Let’s make no mistake. My ethical standpoint hasn’t shifted. We must seriously consider our responsibilities vis-a-vis the evident climate crisis. Our investment in a green energy economy, proven by 300,000 fresh green energy jobs, indicates we can persist with fracking without prohibiting it. Indeed, as vice-president, I delivered the decisive vote that expanded leases for fracking. Hence, my views are crystal clear.”
She defended her immigration record by reminding viewers that Republican legislative members voted against a comprehensive bipartisan bill, which could have introduced 1,500 additional agents at the frontier, following Trump’s orders.
While the Israel-Palestine conflict wasn’t a frequent discussion point, Harris did reiterate her stance of the necessity to reach an agreement. However, she did not provide further explanation on how and when this can be achieved, but stated that there should not be any delay in providing the Israeli government the ammunition it required. The impact of her position on her standing with conscientious objectors in the Democratic electorate and the university students returning to campuses this week remains uncertain.
A highpoint during a generalized talk on American politics was her assertive remark that a decade ago a false notion arose – that the measure of a strong leader depended on how many they oppressed. She asserted that most Americans held an alternate belief – that true leadership strength is marked by those you uplift. In contrast to her critics who peg her with association with West Coast yoga-retreat platitudes, Harris’s approach was distinct.
She maintained staunch loyalty to the president in the six hectic weeks since taking over the nomination from Biden. Harris has been cautious not to project herself as the first female leader of the United States or as a contender with Caribbean and Indian heritage. Instead, she is striving to present herself as the most viable candidate.
However, her responses could be dissected and turned into accusations during the upcoming 10th September debate against Donald Trump in Philadelphia. It is expected that Harris will dedicate the majority of the coming weekend to her preparation for this significant event at Howard University. At present, her campaign staff and the Democratic elites might be pondering the age-old question: where did it all go so well?
Ironically, the Republicans found themselves wondering the same thing in mid-July. It seems a long time ago and Georgia, which was a Republican fortress for almost thirty years until Biden’s slim victory four years prior, might now occupy a similar space in Trump’s psyche as Fermanagh and Tyrone did for Winston Churchill – an area that adamantly refuses to assist him. As of now, the circumstances might alter.
The upcoming months could see Savannah and surrounding cities on the outskirts of Atlanta become a hotbed of fervent pursuit by both candidates as an election of immense conflict approaches its climax. This is a situation where the famously quoted thoughts of Flannery O’Connor, whose conserved early residence is a treasured feature of Savannah, ring truer than ever: In any given situation, achieving grace is challenging.