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‘Welcome, President Ma’am!'
Indian American Democrats stated their support for Kamala Harris to head up the Democratic Presidential ticket as Joe Biden announced he would step down.
Vice President Kamala Harris is shown in 2019 in Oakland, California as she announced her Presidential bid. Copyright Som Sharma/Digital Vision. Used with permission. / Copyright Som Sharma/Digital Vision. Used with permission.
SAN FRANCISCO, California — Indian American support for Kamala Harris to head the top of the ticket began almost immediately on July 21 after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek re-election.
Harris immediately received Biden’s endorsement and announced she would seek the nomination.
“I have so many mixed emotions today,” Harini Krishnan, national director of South Asians for Biden — which will rebrand as South Asians for Harris this week — told New India Abroad. “I’ve been behind Kamala Harris since she announced her bid for President in 2019. But President Biden has been the most effective President of our lifetime, on so many issues, including infrastructure and climate change.”
“But today, he’s doing what’s best for our country by stepping down,” said Krishnan, adding that her phone has been exploding since the announcement, with Indian American voters asking what they can do to support Harris’ nomination. “She has re-energized our community, voters of color, women, and those who feel marginalized.”
“Kamala Harris is exactly who we need to fight Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance,” said Krishnan.
Shekar Narasimhan, chairman and co-founder of the AAPI Victory Fund, explained what will happen next to the paper. Harris, along with any other Democrat who wishes to top the ticket, must get 300 signed and pledged delegates by Aug. 1. The nominee would then be declared on Aug. 6. They will formally accept the party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention, which begins Aug. 19 in Chicago, Illinois.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer have both stated they will not run. Kentucky Governor Andy Bashear has also been floated as a potential candidate to replace Biden, but he too has stated publicly that he is not interested, according to several news sources. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was also floated as a possibility but threw his support behind Harris on July 21 afternoon.
“Both for the legacy of Biden and for the sake of keeping the large Democratic coalition intact, it would be political malpractice for us not to nominate her. Kamala Harris inherits the apparatus of the campaign. She is the logical nominee,” said Narasimhan.
The AAPI Victory Fund announced its endorsement of Harris on July 21.
Political science professor Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder of AAPI Data, told New India Abroad that Harris heading up the ticket “completely shakes up the race." According to Ramakrishnan, it's likely more of a toss-up now, and a real danger for Trump.
Earlier this month, AAPI Data released its survey of Asian American voter preferences. Surprisingly, Indian American support for Vice President Kamala Harris had diminished, with just 16% of Indian-Americans saying they viewed her very favorably. 48% percent viewed her unfavorably. In an earlier interview, Ramakrishnan said: “If there is an opportunity for Harris to be a potential candidate for president this year, I think you'll probably see another burst of activity and potentially another burst of pride.”
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, would make a good vice presidential pick said Ramakrishnan on July 21. He noted that the husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, permanently disabled after an assassination attempt, is one of the strongest advocates for gun control.
The Indian American Impact Fund also endorsed Harris. “Impact is thrilled to throw our support behind her candidacy for president. Harris possesses an extraordinary ability to unite our nation at a time when the stakes have never been higher,” said Deepak Raj, co-founder and board chair of Indian American Impact Fund, in a statement.
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