Today, ex-president Obama predictably endorsed Kamala Harris, continuing a trend of notable figures backing the aspiring democratic nominee. Now possessing an apparent majority of the delegated attendees to the Democratic National Convention, Harris is being aided by party leaders looking for their best shot. Meanwhile, on a wider, world-reaching stage, former President Trump extended a warm welcome to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago. Netanyahu had engaged in a fruitful dialogue with both Biden and Harris at the White House yesterday, as discussions touched upon the vital subject of Israel’s right for self-defense along with concerns about the dire circumstances in the Gaza Strip.
As the presumptive Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris is already looking beyond her party’s internal skirmish and is focusing on defeating her Republican competition. She’s voiced her readiness to challenge Trump in a debate set for September 10. However, the Trump campaign, displaying an unsurprising shrewdness, has refrained from committing to a debate until Harris’ nomination is fully confirmed. This response provoked speculation from Harris that Trump might be seeking to weasel out of the agreement with ABC, a claim that is veritably baseless considering Trump’s track record.
Trump, an adept political tactician, cleverly paints Harris as the embodiment of a mismanaged and disordered U.S. border. This comes on the back of a task handed to her by Biden in 2020 to collaborate with Central American countries to identify and treat the root causes of migration. Trump, ever the crowd-pleaser, colorfully referred to Harris as ‘border czar’ during one of his spirited North Carolina rallies, pending her campaign around the crisis-laden asylum system.
President Trump’s fiery critique of Harris’ handling of the border included the recurring charge that she assisted the illegal influx of ‘millions and millions and millions’ of aliens into the U.S. The crowd reacted with disapproval to his comments as he dubbed Harris’ attempt at managing the situation as ‘crazy.’ This term ‘border czar,’ a term first used in March 2021, has been widely utilized by the Republicans to expose Harris’ botched attempt at handling the migrant surge from Northern Triangle countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
These countries, plagued by violence and rampant criminal activities, have been the primary source of the migrant exodus. The titles of ‘czar’ and ‘border czar,’ though they did not originate in official White House paperwork, swiftly caught on due the public strife. However, Harris’ real assignment was perhaps less dramatic, hence the confusion. It was a diplomatic endeavor seeking to build a regional strategy to reduce migratory needs, not a domestic operation overseeing border enforcement.
After the identification of her role was twisted, the White House was quick to clarify that her directive was not to manage ‘the border’ but was rather focused on addressing the forces that pushed migrants out of the Northern Triangle. However, the misinterpretation had taken root and amidst the crisis worsened by the asylum seekers, the title persisted. Meanwhile, Harris’ campaign has found success in using fundraising calls to elicit monetary support, particularly from white women.
An impressive over $2 million was raised in a single call last night, according to the organizers. Revealed by Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, a seminar-like Zoom call was attended by more than 100,000 participants. In fact, the influx of eager participants was so substantial that the Zoom conference crashed twice, prompting organizers to move late arrivals to YouTube.
The call featured presences from the entertainment and sports sectors, including the beloved singer Pink and national sports heroines former basketball player Sue Bird and soccer star Megan Rapinoe. Furthermore, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand lent her support to the cause. This Zoom call echoed a similar effort made on Sunday targeting Black women’s support, which resulted in 44,000 participants and raised upwards of $1.5 million according to the organizers.
Last night also witnessed a call targeting male Democrats to rally under Harris’ campaign. However, the reported fundraising figures are yet to be officially endorsed. Meanwhile, on another democratic front, Rep. Emilia Sykes, a Democrat from Ohio on shaky political ground, has reintroduced an advertisement showcasing her beam routine.
Syncing with the commencement of the Paris Olympics, Sykes stressed how the opposing side will resort to lies about her during elections, a strategy that presently seems to define the Democratic party’s modus operandi. In a stirring statement, Sykes expressed how she collaborates with both parties to boost pay, ensures safety, and lowers taxes. She then proceeds to champion her plan designed around cutting costs and leaving more money in the voter’s pockets.
Emilia Sykes, who has been a Junior Olympic competitor and a past state champion in gymnastics, skilfully blends her forgotten beam routine into her campaign pledge. She represents Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, which spans Akron and Canton regions. In a recent House floor speech, she relayed how the district was home to basketball luminaries LeBron James, Steph Curry, and the BMX enthusiast Marcus Christopher.
The relevance of her sports acumen appears to resonate with the constituents as she’s seen as a champion for working families. Sykes, hoping for the chance to resume her role, has to contend with Republican Kevin Coughlin, a former state legislator. Even within her party, she’s earned a spot under the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Frontline program, aimed at aiding members engaged in challenging races.
Today, the Obama duo gave a nod to Harris’ presidential aspirations. They extended an enthusiastic endorsement merely days after Biden backed out of the race. In a video, Obama claims that he and Michelle are ‘prouder’ to endorse and assist Harris in her electoral quest. Michelle in the video commends Harris, hinting a historic moment if Harris’ campaign succeeds.
Michelle’s statement to Kamala was particularly laudatory given her saying how proud of Harris she was. She painted an almost prophetic picture of the impending history unfolding if Harris manages to secure the seat in the Oval Office. However, a celebration might be premature since voting day still lays in the future. Only the judgement day will reveal whether these sentiments are reflected by the American people.