Within the next fortnight, Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to be confirmed as the presumptive Democratic candidate for the US presidency. This historic moment marks several firsts for Harris and the Democratic Party.
Driving the news- The race to the US election entered its final stretch on Sunday, marking the beginning of a 100-day campaign that has been dramatically altered by a shocking turn of events.
- President Joe Biden's unexpected withdrawal from the race and an attempt on Donald Trump's life have completely reshaped the political landscape.
- Democrats, who had been grappling with internal divisions and a sense of despair over Biden's candidacy, have now united behind Harris. This development has significantly changed the dynamics of the race leading up to the November 5 election, which had increasingly appeared to be Republican nominee Donald Trump's to lose.
- Since Biden and Obamas' endorsement of Harris, the Democratic campaign has experienced a remarkable resurgence. The party announced on Sunday that it had raised an impressive $200 million, largely from first-time donors, following Biden's decision to step aside and support his vice president.
Why it matters- Harris would be the first black woman and the first Asian-American to be a major party’s nominee for president.
- She will also be the first presidential nominee in the Democratic Party’s nearly 200-year history to hail from a western state.
- Moreover, If she win presidency, Harris would also be the first Democrat to break the "California curse", a report in the Conversation said .
Zoom in- As per a report in the Economist, the West has been historically underrepresented among major parties' candidates. Since the formation of the Democratic and Republican parties in the 19th century, only 9% of presidential and vice-presidential nominees have been westerners.
- The Northeast has produced 35% of the total nominees, with the Midwest and the South also showing strong representation. Notably, the only presidents from the West—Herbert Hoover, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan—were all Californian Republicans, the Economist report said.
- America's changing demography and the evolution of its political parties partly explain the West’s limited historical representation. When the Democratic Party was formed in 1828, there were no western states.
- California joined the union in 1850, and Alaska and Hawaii followed nearly a century later. For much of America’s political history, the West was the least populous region, making it challenging for politicians from the area to gain national recognition.
- The second half of the 20th century saw significant population growth in the West, with California's population more than doubling between 1960 and 2000.
- This demographic shift has increased the region’s political clout, although challenges remain for politicians from less populous western states.As the region has grown and diversified, it has turned more politically purple.
- States like Colorado and New Mexico have consistently voted Democratic in recent presidential elections, and Arizona and Nevada have become swing states.
Between the lines- As per a report in the Conversation, California’s exceptionalism is a double-edged sword. While it contributes significantly to the US economy and is home to major tech giants and influential politicians, its liberal reputation poses a challenge for Harris.
- The success of past Californian politicians like Nixon and Reagan was partly due to California’s political heft, but they were Republicans. Harris must navigate Republican criticisms that target her liberal California background.
- Harris can draw inspiration from successful female politicians from California, like Diane Feinstein and Nancy Pelosi. Feinstein, who made her name as mayor of San Francisco and served in the Senate for over 30 years, and Pelosi, the first female Speaker of the House, are notable examples of breaking political barriers.
What they are saying- "We are the underdogs in this race," Harris acknowledged at a fundraising event on Saturday. "But this is a people-powered campaign and we have momentum," she added.
- Democratic strategist James Carville told MSNBC that Democrats needed to cut the happy talk and prepare for the coming storm. "They're coming at us and they're going to keep coming. And this kind of giddy elation is not going to be very helpful much longer because that's now what we're going to be faced with," he said.
- Labeling Harris a "crazy liberal" and a "radical left lunatic," Trump accused her of being an extremist on abortion and made fun of her laugh. "We have a brand new victim," he told his cheering supporters.
What’s next- A recent Wall Street Journal poll indicates that Harris has narrowed the gap with Trump, reducing Biden's previous six-point deficit to a mere two points, which falls within the margin of error. This surge in support for Harris is attributed to increased backing from Black, Latino, and young voters.
- If Harris wins, she will create many historic firsts including breaking the 'California curse' for Democrats.
- "Perhaps she can break the Democrats’ Californian curse. And in the end, is California really too different? Is it any more “exceptional” than, for instance, New York – the birth place and long-time home to one Donald J Trump," the Conversation report asked.
(With inputs from agencies)
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