Democrat Kamala Harris is in a fierce battle to win the presidential election on November 5, aiming to become the first female president in U.S. history. The pivotal moment for Harris came on a July morning when she was doing a jigsaw puzzle with her grand-nieces.
“The phone rings, and it’s Joe,” Harris recounted to radio host Howard Stern. “I got up to take the call — and then life changed.”
This call was from President Joe Biden, announcing his decision to drop out of the 2024 race and endorse Harris as the Democratic nominee. This unexpected turn marked a significant shift in American politics, as Harris had previously faced record-low approval ratings for a vice president.
In a matter of weeks, she transformed her campaign, holding energetic rallies, raising over $1 billion, and injecting a renewed sense of optimism into a party that had been losing hope. However, current polls indicate a tight race, with the 60-year-old Harris neck-and-neck with former President Donald Trump.
“It’s not easy. Usually, candidates run for president for two years, and she’s only been in the race since late July,” noted David Karol, a government and politics professor at the University of Maryland.
Harris has been a trailblazer as the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, but her path has not been without obstacles. Initially, she faced harsh criticism about her qualifications and was often perceived as vague on policy during her previous presidential campaign in 2019. She became known for her “word salads,” and Republicans seized on her challenges as the “border czar” tasked with addressing illegal immigration.
However, a turning point came in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights. Harris found her voice on this issue, becoming increasingly prominent in Biden’s second campaign, with whispers of her aspirations for the presidency in 2028.
Despite her past underestimation by both parties, Harris has demonstrated her resilience. In her sole debate with Trump, she managed to outmaneuver him, and she has positioned herself as a gun owner to appeal to Republican voters.
Still, she has her weaknesses. Her discomfort with the media was evident during a period of several weeks without interviews, which drew criticism from opponents.
The pressing question now is whether she can successfully piece together her campaign and break through the highest glass ceiling in America. “I think she has run a good campaign. If she loses, some might say ‘oh, that’s because she didn’t run a good campaign’ — but I think that’s wrong,” Karol concluded.
