Kamala Harris Stands To Make History Again

WASHINGTON, DC (IANS) – Vice-President Kamala Harris stands once again on the edge of history in a political career replete with milestones.

President Joe Biden’s exit from the White House race and endorsement of Kamala Harris makes her the top contender for his mantle as the Democratic party’s nominee for President, which will make her the first African American woman, the first Asian American, and the first Indian American to claim and win, if she does, a major political party’s nomination for President, the highest political office in America.

Harris has already won the endorsements of President Biden, former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Endorsements are pouring in from other Democrats, both lawmakers and party officials.

If Harris wins the nomination and goes on to win the race, the 47th US President will be the first woman President.

Harris already comes with a clutch of firsts: the first woman, the first African American, the first Asian American and the first Indian American to hold the vice-presidency of the United States.

Born to a mother from India’s Tamil Nadu and father from Jamaica, Harris has been a trailblazer in US politics, cutting her teeth as a state prosecutor in California. She went on to win two terms as Attorney General of California. She ran for the US Senate in 2016 and won, the same year when Donald Trump beat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

As Senator, Harris became known for a strict and no-nonsense style of interrogating witnesses at hearings and confirmation hearings. “You’ve been speaking for almost eight hours to this committee about all sorts of things you remember,” Harris said to Brett Kavanaugh. Trump’s nominee for Supreme Court in September 2018. “How can you not remember whether or not you had a conversation about Robert Mueller or his investigation with anyone at that law firm?” This was said with reference to former FBI Director Muller who investigated Trump campaign’s Russia links as a special prosecutor.

Harris had her sight on a higher office and became one of the first to throw her hat into the ring for the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee to take on Trump. She flamed out early as well after a debate in which she accused Biden, who was also in the race which he went on to win and win the White House, of working with US Senators known for their racism and for opposing busing of African American children to previously white schools. Biden still picked her as his running mate.

She had a rocky start as Vice President with tensions between herself and Biden’s staff. After the Supreme Court’s epic 2022 decision overturning the constitutional right to abortion, Harris emerged as the administration’s strongest and loudest voice on the issue.

 “On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country,” Harris said in the first remarks after historic developments. “His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office.”

“It is a profound honor to serve as his Vice-President, and I am deeply grateful to the President, Biden, and the entire Biden family. I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from our days working together as Attorneys General of our home states. As we worked together, Beau would tell me stories about his dad. The kind of father—and the kind of man—he was. And the qualities Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values, I have seen every single day in Joe’s leadership as President: His honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love of our country and the American people.”

“With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.”

“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.”