The two women who have run for US vice president – Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Republican Sarah Palin in 2008 – were both part of failed campaigns, which ended with their running mates' defeat. This week, they were followed by the third woman to run for vice president, who at least right now appears to have a better chance of making it to the White House, even as second fiddle, than her predecessors.
She is California Senator Kamala Harris, whose story and that of her parents are a concrete expression of the narrative that the US is a melting pot that allows even the first generation born in the US to immigrant parents to succeed, no matter how far afield their family roots lies.
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As the daughter of a Jamaican father and a mother who immigrated to the US from India, who both climbed the ladder of American academia and on the way smashed every glass ceiling there was, Kamala Harris – who identifies as a member of the Black community – had her way paved from the start. She is an active, diligent, and talented senator, who in under four years managed to leave a real mark on the legislative process, especially on issues having to do with the battle against discrimination and how law enforcement agencies conduct themselves.
She will challenge Trump
Given all this, and the fact that prior to being elected senator Harris spent six years as California attorney general, at first glance she would appear to be an optimal choice by presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Not only does her candidacy give voice to the multiculturalism of American society, but Biden has also positioned himself next to someone who, both in terms of age and temperament, can balance him.
Remember, balance is the key element in nearly every choice for a vice presidential candidate. In the past, the balance was based on ideological, geographical, or professional considerations. The New England liberal John Kennedy, for example, picked southerner Lyndon Johnson as his running mate in 1960, who was seen as conservative. He did so in the hope that the choice would bolster him in the South, and especially give him a window of opportunity in Texas, Johnson's electorally-heavy home state. That hope was fulfilled. Bill Clinton, the Democratic governor of little Arkansas, picked veteran Senator Al Gore as his running mate in 1992. Gore, unlike Clinton, knew the federal legislative and bureaucratic process inside and out.
This time, the balance has to do with the candidates' ages. If Biden is elected, he will be 78 when he is sworn in, whereas Harris, 55, radiates freshness and boundless energy. "Sleepy Joe" will be backed by an active, combative, and sharp-tongued candidate who will pose a challenge Trump at every opportunity with her characteristic pepper, much like she challenged Biden himself at the start of the primaries when she declared her candidacy and attacked him mercilessly. However, we cannot ignore the possibility that Harris' over-assertiveness could deter some white men and conservatives, mostly in the Midwest, and have a negative influence on their willingness to vote Democratic.
Beyond the age balance the choice of Harris represents, Biden made an unequivocal strategic decision by picking her. He preferred to strengthen the center of the Democratic Party rather than reach out to its radical liberal fringes.
Biden avoided picking a running mate from Bernie Sanders' socialist faction, such as Elizabeth Warren or Karen Bass. He assumed that the general hostility toward Trump, which is rife at all levels and in all sectors of the Democratic Party, will spur members of the party's progressive wing to cast ballots on Election Day, even though they might have preferred a candidate who espoused their own ideology
Ideal for Israel
As far as Israel goes, Harris, whose husband is Jewish, is an ideal candidate. She is light-years from the positions of the JStreet organization, and fairly close to AIPAC. She is a vigorous opponent of the BDS movement, and faithfully represents the sector of the party that supports Israel. All in all, not only will it be difficult to portray her as radical, but the choice of Harris will also encourage Black and multicultural America to vote. Given her youth and high aspirations, and Biden's obvious weariness, we could see a special scenario unfold before our very eyes – two women competing in the 2024 presidential election: Harris and Republican Nikki Haley. Both are of Indian descent, and both symbolize the American spirit and its founding narrative.
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