When Kamala Harris ascends to the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week as the party’s presidential nominee, she will do so aware that many among the audience who applaud her now once doubted her potential.
Ms. Harris, 59, has endured years of skepticism from some within her party regarding her capability to contend for the nation’s top political position - including from President Joe Biden, whom she continues to assist as vice-president.
Since taking over from Mr. Biden as the Democratic nominee in mid-July, Ms. Harris has experienced a surge of excitement - evident in polls, fundraising efforts, and the massive audiences that have gathered to support her at rallies nationwide.
However, the political momentum and enthusiasm she has cultivated among Democrats recently was never assured.
Following an unsuccessful brief presidential campaign in 2019, she embarked on her vice-presidency with precarious beginnings, encountering mishaps during prominent interviews, staff changes, and low approval ratings. Throughout three-and
Simultaneously, she must demonstrate her ability to guide a party that has never regarded her as its inherent leader and is still split on the conflict in Israel and Gaza. However, most importantly, she must dispel any persistent uncertainty among the Democratic base regarding her ability to confront former president Donald Trump in an ongoing closely contested and unpredictable election.
route to the White House
Before Kamala Harris emerged as a prominent figure nationally, the former San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general had built a reputation as an ascending star within the party, securing the endorsement of President Barack Obama in her 2010 campaign to become the state's chief legal officer.
However, those who monitored her career closely observed a mixed legacy. As a prosecutor, she encountered public backlash for declining to pursue the death penalty for an individual found guilty of murdering a young police officer. Then, as attorney general, she maintained the state's death penalty despite her personal objections.
Having reached the pinnacle of California state politics, she was elected to the US Senate on the same night that Donald Trump triumphed over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. During her short time in office, she garnered attention for her incisive and direct questioning of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his contentious 2018 confirmation hearings.
“Can you think of any regulations that offer governance
Like Mr. Obama, she was a young senator with boundless ambition. Midway through her initial term, she kicked off a presidential bid.
That bid, similar to this one, was launched to much excitement. Over 20,000 individuals gathered in her hometown of Oakland, California, for the event's initiation. However, her attempt to secure the Democratic nomination faltered and failed before a single primary vote was cast.
Ms. Harris struggled to establish a distinct political persona and set herself apart from contenders that included Mr. Biden and leftist senator Bernie Sanders. Detractors pointed out that while she backed various progressive measures, she seemed to lack firm conviction.
A pivotal moment in June 2019 during a debate where she confronted her then-rival Mr. Biden over his history on school desegregation led to a temporary rise in her polling numbers. She criticized Mr. Biden for recalling his previous work with two segregation
However, internal conflicts within the campaign and uncertainty over which issues to prioritize ultimately doomed her presidential run. The campaign was characterized by “numerous novice errors,” noted Kevin Madden, an advisor on Republican Mitt Romney’s 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. “The necessary substance to meet the commander-in-chief standard and adequately address voter concerns simply wasn’t present, leading her rivals to step in and provide it for her.” Eight months later, Mr. Biden set aside their earlier competition and selected Ms. Harris as his running mate. She became the first woman of color ever nominated for that role—and in January 2021, the first female vice president in US history
A bumpy beginning
Five months into her role as Mr. Biden's vice-president, Ms. Harris encountered her initial public blunder during a diplomatic trip to Guatemala and Mexico.
The mission was intended to showcase her commitment to economic programs aimed at alleviating the surge of migrants from Central America to the US southern border, a responsibility delegated by Mr. Biden.
However, it was quickly overshadowed by an awkward exchange during an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt, where she dismissed multiple inquiries about her lack of presence at the US-Mexico border.
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Later that day, at a press conference alongside Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, Ms. Harris attempted to steer the narrative back on track by sending a clear message to potential migrants contemplating a journey to
The vice-president’s supporters pointed fingers at the White House for not preparing her adequately and for presenting her with an insurmountable challenge. They expressed that, as the first woman, African-American, and Asian-American vice-president, she faced inflated expectations from the outset of her tenure, leaving her with little time to acclimate. “There was tremendous pressure in the beginning to take ownership,” remarked a former aide who requested anonymity to speak openly about their experience in the White House. In the ensuing months, Ms. Harris underwent increased scrutiny as she dealt with significant staff changes, a barrage of negative press regarding her performance, and lackluster media appearances. Constrained by Covid protocols, her public engagements were restricted, enhancing the perception of her being sidelined. When detractors described her as merely ornamental for standing behind Mr. Biden during bill-signing ceremonies—just as previous white male officeholders had done—a decision was made to exclude her from such events altogether, leading to further criticism of her absence
Roe v Wade and coalition politics
As her team aimed to enhance her unfavorable public perception, Ms. Harris assumed a more significant role in foreign policy. She visited Poland following Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, engaged in bilateral discussions in Asia during rising tensions with China, and represented Mr. Biden at the Munich Security Conference that same year. However, in May 2022, a political upheaval would alter the course of her vice-presidency. In an atypical breach by the Supreme Court, a leaked draft opinion indicated intentions to overturn the pivotal Roe v Wade abortion decision - which had safeguarded American women’s federal right to abortion for nearly fifty years.
She capitalized on this moment by becoming the primary spokesperson on a topic that Mr. Biden – a devout Irish Catholic who even avoided uttering the word “abortion” – was hesitant to address directly. “How dare they? How dare they tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her own body?” she proclaimed to an audience at
Ms. Harris, who dedicated much of her career to maneuvering through California’s complex blend of liberal and traditional Democratic politics, understood the significance of every occasion. Each gathering, publicity opportunity, or dinner—whether with black business executives or Hispanic female leaders—was meticulously documented by her team in comprehensive spreadsheets she could reference when she needed to leverage a vast political network for assistance. “She compelled the operation to organize around her perspective on politics, which is coalitions,” remarked a senior official. Ms. Harris consistently aimed for a 2028 campaign for the presidency, positioning herself as Joe Biden’s logical successor, provided he secured a second term in the 2024 election. However, as speculation grew about replacing Mr. Biden on the ticket after his faltering debate performance against Donald Trump in late June, some Democrats began to overlook her. They and many commentators indicated that popular governors such as California's Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro, or Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer would be more
Harris has swiftly rallied the Democratic Party around her, as she and her running mate Tim Walz gain traction
As a candidate, the vice-president has yet to present an extensive policy agenda or engage in a challenging media interview. She unveiled an economic strategy on Friday, advocating for tax reductions for families and a broader effort on controlling drug prices, marking her clearest vision for the nation thus far.
Despite Republican claims that she is evading scrutiny, her team feels no urgency to diminish the momentum she has gathered over the past month. Political strategists assert that the campaign is wise to take advantage of this temporary surge.
“What Kamala Harris is experiencing is substantial, pent-up demand for support for anyone other than Biden or Trump,” remarked Mr. Madden, a former aide to Romney and Republican communications strategist. “However, the real challenge arises when faced with interviews, press engagements, debates, and the intense spotlight of a campaign.”
Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian who assisted in organizing a
Recent polling has put her ahead or tied with Trump in six of the seven battleground states, according to the Cook Political Report survey released on Wednesday. In May, Trump was ahead or tied in all seven states.
I was born with a seatbelt’
Thursday night’s address at the Democratic convention marks a defining moment in Kamala Harris’s political trajectory. While the Republican convention acted as a crowning for Trump, who received his party's nomination for the third time, Ms. Harris’s unexpected ascent means her address will be viewed as a crucial opportunity to articulate her true identity.
Although she has appeared on stage previously, a senior aide indicated that this speech will emphasize her personal narrative more than those of prior nominees. “This is the reason aspect of the discussion. Why is she pursuing the presidency? What is her vision for the nation?” remarked Mr. Simmons, her former communications director. “That will help weave together all aspects of her policy and political history in a way that resonates with people.”
However, over these four days, Ms. Harris must refine her messaging regarding crime, inflation, the economy, and immigration – topics that the Trump campaign will unrelentingly target leading up to election day. Whit Ayres, a veteran Republican
She will also face demonstrations regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza, a divisive topic that has politically split the party. Ms Harris has been more assertive in her calls for a ceasefire and denouncement of civilian casualties compared to President Biden, yet she remains committed to the administration's unwavering backing for Israel - a position that could alienate the party’s progressive faction.
“How she positions [herself on Gaza] will be her most challenging maneuver,” remarked Mr Brinkley, the presidential historian.
Nonetheless, supporters and advisers who have been preparing her over the last week believe she’s laid the groundwork for a presidential bid over the past four - at times rocky - years, even if few anticipated she would find herself in this role at this time.
“Opportunity is preparation meeting just a touch of luck, and I wouldn’t describe this as luck since no one wanted it to turn out this way, but clearly she was equipped to seize this moment of opportunity,” stated a senior political adviser.
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