Five Reasons Why Kamala Harris Can Beat Trump
Kamala Harris may still prevent Donald Trump's return to the White House. Analysts doubt her chances: too liberal, too unhappy, failed in immigration policy. The polls show her behind. And yet her chances are better than expected.
A woman as President of the USA has never existed before. For the first time in two and a half centuries, a woman was nominated for presidency: Hillary Clinton in the presidential campaign of 2016. The attempt failed, unfortunately, against the macho Donald Trump. But this time it could be the first woman president. Kamala Harris is said to be too liberal for the majority of Americans and too preoccupied with gender and abortion issues, some find her unhappy and colorless, she failed in immigration policy, her campaign started too late, and Trump is still flying high heroically-patriotically after the attack. In reality, Harris' poll numbers are only slightly better than Biden's. The polling institutes see Trump ahead on average with 48.1 to 46.2 percent. Therefore - she has moderate chances.
And yet there are five reasons why Harris could surprise the world with a success:
Firstly: The sudden nomination of Harris gave the sluggish Democratic campaign a fresh start. Above all, the group of "Double Haters" can now be mobilized for Harris. A quarter of Americans held both Biden and Trump in low regard - the highest proportion of "Doppelhasser" in the last 10 elections, according to Pew Research data.
Harris' candidacy looks like a window opener in the campaign, which is bogged down in unpopularity. Her spontaneous fundraising ability is a positive sign. Harris is using the momentum for herself. With her nomination, she has already pushed Trump out of the headlines. Now she can determine the next headlines through the nominating convention and the appointment of a popular man for the vice presidency. Suddenly, the Democrats are dominating the campaign rhythm again and not Trump.
Harris can systematically use the stage of the vice presidency for her campaign. She will be visible in the White House - as was already evident on Monday - by honoring popular basketball teams and meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Through her position, she is extraordinarily visible and embedded in strong settings
Secondly: For months, the Democrats have been struggling with Biden's age issue. Suddenly, the topic turns to their advantage. Kamala Harris is 59 years old and could almost be Trump's daughter. Trump's polemic against age is now turning against himself.
Biden would have been the oldest president ever elected, exactly what Trump, if he wins, will be. "Time for a generational change," the Democrats will now be their slogan. Besides Trump (78 years) and Biden (81 years), Bernie Sanders (82 years), Elizabeth Warren (75 years), and Nancy Pelosi (84 years), Harris suddenly looks like the fresh face in the political old folks home in America.
Thirdly: The Democratic campaign suffered from the fact that both African Americans and Latinos were finding it increasingly difficult to support Biden. With Kamala Harris, daughter of a Tamil breast cancer researcher from India and an economics professor from Jamaica, the Democrats suddenly have access to these groups - and to the Asian minority as well. In addition, Doug Emhoff, Harris' Jewish husband, would be the first Jewish "first gentleman" in the White House.
Fourths: The idea that Harris is the first woman to win the Presidency brings an immediate boost to her campaign. The old white men's campaign suddenly gains a modernization note, making the gender and diversity innovation almost avant-garde. Harris is already the first US Vice President in history, after Geraldine Ferraro failed as Vice Presidential nominee alongside Walter Mondale in 1984 and Sarah Palin with John McCain in 2008.
Being the first in new roles is something Harris is used to: She was the first woman to hold the Chief position of the District Attorney's Office in San Francisco, the first Justice Minister of California, the first black Senator of California, and eventually the first Vice President of the USA. She has the Women's Movement of America behind her.
By Monday morning, the list of organizations that have endorsed the Vice Presidential candidate was enormous - from the "National Organization for Women (NOW)" to the "National Women's Political Caucus," She Should Run, Higher Heights, "Run Sister Run," "Emily's List," "Women for American Values and Ethics (WAVE)," and "Her Bold Move." They raised over $1 Million for Harris' campaign in a Zoom call on Sunday evening. According to the group, over 40,000 women participated in the call.
Fifths: Harris can position herself as a promise of sunshine for the future of America. She comes from California and represented the state in the Senate. This embodies the most modern, successful, and dynamic federal state of the USA. California would be the fifth-largest economy in the world as an independent state.
It is the laboratory for the digital world and ecological avant-garde, modern, successful, and liberal - like a blueprint for the better USA of the 21st century. Harris not only champions women and blacks, but she stands for "Californication" as a vision for the future. In the most populous country in the USA, she is expected to get a spectacular good result for the Democrats.
Above all, funds from California are expected to come in large numbers for Harris. Once, ironically, even Donald Trump donated to Harris' campaign. The money went to her campaign when she ran for the office of California's Attorney General. Trump donated $5000 for her first campaign in 2011, another $1000 for her re-election in 2013. His daughter Ivanka Trump also donated $2000 for the re-election in 2014. These are intriguing, but in today's context, they are laughably small sums for the Californian. Harris' campaign reportedly raised $81 Million in the first 24 hours. A significant portion of this came from her wealthy home state.
Joe Biden's late start in the campaign could potentially benefit from Kamala Harris' nomination. The fresh perspective and energy she brings might rejuvenate the Democratic campaign, as some supporters of Biden and Trump alike have shown dissatisfaction with both candidates.
Donald Trump's age will become a topic of discussion, potentially hurting his chances with voters. Trump, like Biden, would be the oldest president ever elected if he wins, but Harris, at 59 years old, presents a more youthful alternative to both Trump and Biden.
Kamala Harris' cultural background and her huband's Jewish heritage could help to diversify the Democratic base. Harris' unique background as the daughter of a Tamil breast cancer researcher from India and an economics professor from Jamaica, along with her husband Doug Emhoff being the first Jewish "first gentleman" in the White House, can help to appeal to a wider range of voters, including African Americans, Latinos, and the Asian minority.
