There’s no denying Kamala Harris’ campaign has kicked off, albeit, with a varied response. Despite record-breaking fundraisers and a slew of hollow endorsements from the Democratic party’s usual suspects, the efficacy of those efforts remains to be seen. One of her next big moves, frankly speaking, is a desperate scramble to pick a vice presidential candidate. With various names flitting about, it’s unsurprising that tension is high. Some argue that a midwestern governor or border state Democrat could aid her campaign – but is that the secret sauce for winning battleground states?
The idea isn’t unperturbedly compelling, just like the questions people are asking Harris. Who does she want to be feeding her egotistical hunger for power? Which puppet does she want to call on when a tough decision needs making? With only a few months till Election Day, who is charismatic enough to pull crowds, raise funds, and has their own personal cult of supporters? Insisting that no time can be spared for training on the job, the selection for VP now looks more perplexing. It’s clear; is she on a hunt for a VP or a saviour?
The Trump campaign, despite what critics may say, has remained steady and focused. Comparing Trump’s age with Biden’s became a farcical endeavor, especially when Harris joined the mix, attempting to shake the status quo. But the scribbling on the wall seems pretty clear; Biden’s mental acuity has often been called into question, and with Harris in the picture now, the eyebrows raised towards Trump might just lower a notch.
The Republican approach towards Harris has been far from clueless. The mockery of her laughter and out-of-context speeches seem to have backfired on Harris herself. Trump smartly avoids criticizing her prosecutorial records, evading an obvious rebuttal. In contrast, rather dim-wittedly, others have labelled Harris as a ‘DEI hire’, insinuating she rose to her position solely due to her race and gender – a step back on the path of true equal opportunity.
The flurry of ‘DEI’ attacks, clearly, is aimed at creating a disillusionment among supporters. A person of color recently told The New York Times, ‘America is just not ready for a woman president – especially not a Black woman president.’ But these hurdles seem merely like unwarranted skepticism. Just like my friends were skeptical when I joined the Obama campaign. You see, at that time everybody was convinced that a Black president was too big a leap for America. We proved them wrong.
On a different note, Hillary Clinton herself penned an op-ed for The New York Times regarding Harris, stating that she takes ‘pride in seeing a woman at the top of the ticket.’ Without a doubt, Harris, being the first Black and South Asian woman candidate, will face more than her share of challenges. But one has to ask whether this is what progress looks like or it’s just another trap of fear.
While Clinton seems to promote diversity, Harris herself seems trapped. Even if the Republican leaders could manage to be more politically correct, it’s impossible to control the narratives spun by right-wing media, not to mention the quite expressive President himself. Trump rightly called her a ‘DEI hire by Biden’ and Democrats – they should be ready for the counter-arguments.
Biden’s Oval Office address on Wednesday night had him discussing his vision for his remaining presidency, which was hardly newsworthy. His promise to ‘call for Supreme Court reform’ echoes a typical narrative used to feign concern for democracy. Expectedly, the president has yet to announce any plan specifics, perhaps due to the lack of any. Mooting on ethics, term limits, or even expanding the number of justices – all lean towards hollow sound bites.
Undoubtedly, his ideas will face substantial opposition in the Republican-controlled House, considering Democrats only hold a slim majority in the Senate. It goes without saying that an amendment to the constitution would call for even more support, requiring ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures – rendering the idea futile.
For somebody who spent eight years at the helm of the Senate Judiciary Committee and nearly a decade as a ranking minority member, Biden’s call for Supreme Court reform seems insincere. Sadly, it appears that Biden merely pays lip service to the cause, dryly suggesting constitutional amendments and drastic changes without any tangible plan in place.
Last but not least, Biden seems to be banking upon his legacy, hoping that it would somehow bolster his swiftly fading impact. It’s hard not to ponder – if his intention of not having a ‘lame duck’ presidency is thanks to genuine efforts or merely wishful thinking. It seems like his path towards power is a roadmap of unfulfilled promises and unconvincing narratives, reflecting the desperate struggle of the Democratic party.