Presidential race hits a reset
Back in November 2023, I speculated, “What if Harris versus Haley in the 2024 Presidential Race?” Much has changed globally since then[1]. For example, Modi’s 3.0 in Bharat, Sunak’s defeat in the U.K., tumultuous politics in France, and now the U.S. is turning pages with potential impacts on local and global geopolitics. Our question: How is Harris different from Trump, and will America embrace a woman in the White House as POTUS (President of the United States)?
Earlier, I wrote, “What more should he (Biden) expect from his aging body and mind?[1]… He should write his biography, develop a Presidential libra, and most of all, give the formidable opportunity to his Vice President Harris. He should stand in front of the mirror and ask himself: Does he need to run in the 2024 race to the top? I hope wisdom prevails and Biden gracefully tells the country and the world that he is grateful for the privileges he has had and now it is time to move on.”
Fortunately, wisdom prevailed, and Biden gracefully announced that he would no longer be a Presidential candidate. It was long overdue, but it is better late than never. The United States owes him a lot for his long and impeccable service to the nation. He has been a politician par excellence, deserving accolades from every American irrespective of their political ideology. I am pleased that he can give his aging body, mind, and soul the rest they deserve.
This puts Kamala Harris front and center as a strong Democratic contender for the Presidential race. She received a strong endorsement from Biden, and support for her is growing by the day. Harris praised Biden’s legacy, calling it “unmatched in modern history[2].” Reportedly, Harris also raised a record $81 million in donations in the first 24 hours as a candidate. Although not an official Democratic candidate, she will be debating the recently confirmed Donald Trump as the Republican candidate. What a turn of events!
The focus here is presumed Democratic candidate Harris against Trump. Earlier, neither Biden nor Trump were my personal favorites. In fact, I often joked that my vote was up for ‘auction,’ which is no longer the case. While Harris is yet to be formally announced, I offer my “What If” scenario. I also include a brief mention of Trump’s Vice-Presidential candidate, J D Vance, married to Usha Chilukuri Vance. She is of Indian descent and a practicing Hindu who may influence Hindu voters in favor of Trump.
Harris versus Trump?
Both Harris and Trump are tried and tested names in U.S. politics. Harris has a much longer history in American politics than Trump, except for his four years in the White House. They were chaotic, controversial, and influenced by Covid. What followed immediately after Trump’s defeat in 2020 offers a very grim picture of his persona and personal character, with many legal cases stemming from his actions before and during the Presidency. Harris, on the other hand, has many years of political experience, including being the Vice President, a Senator, and the Attorney General of California.
I am particularly thrilled and ready to celebrate the potential of having a woman (Harris) as President. The United States broke the long-held racial ceiling when Obama was elected. Now, America has an opportunity to pierce the gender ceiling with Harris as the next President. It will be interesting and game-changing to have Harris on the ballot. She is a well-known, capable, politically astute, and experienced woman with a proven political record. However, the less charismatic Harris has limited time and thus an uphill challenge to persuade voters in the next three months.
Additionally, if Americans truly value and believe in DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) rather than just talking about it, Harris stands much taller than Trump in all aspects of DEI. Harris is energetic and younger with Indian heritage. Her inter-racial marriage and multi-religious identity, being born to a Hindu mother, raised as a Christian, and married to a Jewish husband are extraordinary attributes to have in the White House. Growing up, she attended a Hindu temple and Sunday services at a Black Baptist church. She identifies herself more as African American than Indian American but it may change as she campaigns now onward.
How about Trump?
Trump’s record as the former President is full of baggage and blunders, unlike any other. He was a laughingstock on many occasions, and his handling of Covid was marred with controversies. His association with North Korea’s dictator and trust in the Russian leader were notably against U.S. longstanding foreign policy. The worst was the January 6, 2020, insurrection. It was allegedly inspired by Trump himself. These gaffes and unsettled legal challenges do not earn him the next Presidency, which may further diminish the United States’ global impact. He has his followers, but why does he crave unwelcome attention? His aging body and soul need rest, but if he insists, he can run his business and be at peace.
Nonetheless, we cannot deny that the potential exists for Trump to reclaim the White House again. He has a strong following further fueled by sympathy following the attack on him. He is very aggressive in his campaign and hardly ever bound by facts and ethical values. A chauvinist and elitist Trump may get more aggressive and louder against the ‘female’ candidate.
Trump, a White male who despises Blacks and various immigrant groups (Indian immigrants excluded), is no match for Harris’s attributes. Some citizens of Indian descent may suggest that Kamala Harris is a “sell-out” because she accepted Christianity over Hinduism and identifies herself with African Americans more than Indian Americans.
Each individual is free to make a choice, but Harris’s “diversity” Trump’s lifestyle without even a remote connection to what diversity and decency mean. He can be credited for creating his wealth as a successful entrepreneur, but that too is allegedly done with deceptive and unethical practices bypassing the laws of the land.
Before concluding
Trump deserves due credit for selecting a younger running mate, J D Vance. It compensates for his own age and indirectly adds a flavor of diversity. If Trump gets elected, the White House will have limited exposure to racial and religious diversity because Vance’s wife Usha is a practicing Hindu born to Indian immigrants.
It is about time that the United States gracefully elects a female President and breaks the longest-held gender bias ceiling. For Bharat and the people of Bharat origin, we have reasons to celebrate no matter who gets elected. Kamala Harris as President will be a strong reminder that Kamala means “Lotus,” the symbol of Modi’s Bhartiya Janata Party. LOTUS and POTUS also rhyme well.
On the contrary, if Trump wins, his chemistry with Modi is good. Fast-forwarding to 2028, Vance is likely an aspirant for POTUS with his wife Usha as a symbol of generational change and growing diversity. Usha, now 38, a Yale-educated corporate lawyer and a practicing Hindu, will not only hold the reins as First Lady for as many as eight years but also may be ready to jump in the fray for POTUS in 2036 and/ or beyond.
Shall we say that the White House is ready for a future POTUS of Bharat origin—be it Kamala Harris, Usha Vance, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and/or new faces?
Disclosure: Chat GPT is used minimally to improve the flow and not the contents.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
Reference:
[1] “What If” HARRIS versus HALEY in 2024 Presidential Race? – Nov 15, 2023, PGurus.com
[2] Kamala Harris lacks charisma and time – Jul 22, 2024, The Economist
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Formerly, a researcher in Italy, Japan, and France, he has widely travelled and came to the US in 1978. He was a faculty and academic administrator in several different universities in PA, TX, NJ, MN, WI, and NY, and an Executive Fellow in the White House S&T Policy during the Clinton administration.
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Kamala Doll Harris Will enter America book of records as dumbest candidate in its history. The voters equally dumb going to vote i.e. Land of Scientific Universities, having no answer to dumbest brains on earth.
Will enter America book of records as dumbest candidate in its history.
Trump’s record is close to perfection. Ask anybody neutral in the world.
Trump’s record is close to perfection. Ask anybody neutral in the world.
very beautiful future predictions.