Kamala Harris is the frontrunner in the fierce battle for Joe Biden’s vice presidential pick, according to numerous media reports.
If chosen, Harris would be the “first Black and first Indian American woman to be nominated on a major party’s presidential ticket,” The Hill reports.
Harris may be the “least risky” pick, but according to The Hill, she isn’t the sure choice either. Harris’ home state, California, is a Democratic given in the polls, and that fact may outweigh her experience and tenacity.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Harris also faces a long line of other worthy contenders –including former presidential candidate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Candidates such as Californian Rep. Karen Bass, Floridian Rep. Val Demings, and former Obama national security advisor Susan Rice are also in the running –all Black women who could encourage better Black voter turnout than the lower than expected showings in 2016.
Illinois’ Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a disabled veteran and Thai American, is also on the list. As an opinion piece by USA Today contributors noted: “Duckworth not only volunteered, but sacrificed both her legs and partial mobility in her right arm in Iraq for our country. She is the embodiment of ‘duty, honor, country.’”
Yet, the same opinion piece notes that Harris is “the answer to Trump’s lawlessness” and “appeals to diverse voters.”
Harris gained national attention in her presidential campaign and has been at the forefront of other events such as the Senate hearing to nominate Brett Kavanugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Harris also recently co-authored a Democratic bill on police reform.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Biden’s pick will essentially lay out the Democratic Party’s path for the next few years.
At 77, there’s a possibility Biden will not seek a second term, leaving his vice president with a “leg up.”
And no matter who Biden chooses, the country may soon have its first female vice president –a step that will undoubtedly shift the course of representation in politics.
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Slug: Kamala Harris could be the first black and first Indian-American vice president, but it’s not set in stone as she faces other contenders
