Kamala Harris Stands to Make History Again as Biden Drops Out
Washington: US Vice-President Kamala Harris is poised once again on the cusp of history in her political career filled with significant milestones. With President Joe Biden stepping out of the White House race and endorsing Harris, she becomes the top contender for the Democratic party’s presidential nomination. Should she win, Harris would not only be the first woman but also the first African American, Asian American, and Indian American to claim and win a major political party’s nomination for the highest office in America.
Harris has garnered significant endorsements from President Biden, former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among others. This support places her in a strong position as she vies for the nomination.
Harris, already a trailblazer as the first woman, African American, Asian American, and Indian American Vice President, continues to break barriers. At 59, she is notably younger than both Biden, 81, and former President Donald Trump, 78, the Republican nominee.
Born to a mother from India’s Tamil Nadu and a father from Jamaica, Harris began her career as a state prosecutor in California. She later served two terms as Attorney General of California before winning a US Senate seat in 2016, the same year Donald Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
As a Senator, Harris gained recognition for her stringent and direct questioning during hearings. Notably, she challenged Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, during his confirmation hearing, questioning his recollection of conversations about Robert Mueller’s investigation into Trump’s campaign’s Russia links.
Harris initially ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination but withdrew early. Despite past tensions, Biden selected her as his running mate. As Vice President, she faced initial challenges and difficult assignments, including addressing the issue of undocumented migrants from the Northern Triangle. However, following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning the constitutional right to abortion, Harris emerged as the administration’s prominent voice on the issue. Her strong stance helped mitigate the anticipated “red wave” in the 2022 mid-term elections and remains a pivotal issue for the Democratic party in 2024.