Officially nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris steps into the race with a clear advantage, yet faces significant economic and policy challenges ahead.
“We are deeply honored by this nomination. This is a campaign driven by the people, and together we will chart a new course forward,” Vice President Kamala Harris declared in a video broadcast at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 20th, marking her official entry as the party’s presidential candidate.
This momentous milestone propels Harris into the final stretch against her opponent, Donald Trump, with the U.S. presidential election just over two months away. It also places her in a more daunting position as she transitions from being President Joe Biden’s “second-in-command” to the leader of the Democratic Party’s bid to retain control of the White House.
Nancy Quarles, the chair of the Democratic Party in Oakland County, just outside Detroit, has witnessed numerous political battles in the battleground state of Michigan. However, she notes that something feels “entirely different” since Harris took the torch from President Biden to spearhead the mission of defeating Trump.
“Our phones have been ringing non-stop. People are eager to put campaign signs in their yards. Many are offering to volunteer for our campaign. It seems like they’ve been waiting for this moment but lacked the motivation before,” Quarles shared.
The swift rallying of Democratic support around Harris signifies a significant boost in voter confidence within the party, reinforcing the belief that she could prevent Trump from reclaiming the presidency.
So far, the decision to back Harris appears to be paying off. She has closed the gap with Trump and even surpassed the Republican candidate in several battleground state polls. After months of leading the race, Trump now finds himself in a tight contest against the Democratic Party’s new contender.
This is why many analysts believe Harris is currently enjoying a “honeymoon period” in her campaign journey. However, as the race enters its second phase, with increasingly fierce confrontations between the two sides, she will undoubtedly face more formidable obstacles.
As Kamala Harris steps into the spotlight as the official Democratic presidential candidate, she faces the dual challenge of intensified scrutiny from Donald Trump and the Republican camp, alongside heightened expectations from voters on her policies and public engagements.
Political observers predict that Harris will be navigating a complex landscape of economic and geopolitical issues, ranging from the White House’s response to Middle Eastern conflicts to domestic concerns like job growth and inflation. As the current Vice President, her actions and policies will be under a microscope.
Donna Brazile, a seasoned strategist and former Democratic Party chair, believes Trump holds a tactical advantage as the race heats up. “Harris needs to articulate a clear and compelling message that resonates with the everyday concerns of the American people,” Brazile advised.
Among the key battlegrounds—Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan—Michigan is seen as crucial in determining the outcome of the upcoming November election. While Democratic lawmakers in the state remain optimistic about Harris’s chances, they acknowledge that the path to victory will be challenging.
“Kamala Harris has an abundance of energy and momentum. The goal is to drive record voter turnout, but we’ll need to work tirelessly to persuade undecided voters,” remarked Haley Stevens, a Democratic lawmaker representing Oakland County.
Dan Kildee, a congressman representing Flint, emphasized that Harris’s challenge lies in making her policy proposals tangible and relatable to the everyday lives of Americans while maintaining the support she currently enjoys.
“This is a 400-meter sprint, not a marathon,” he said, capturing the urgency of the campaign’s final stretch.
In less than a month, Harris has positioned herself as the candidate for change in an election where many voters are seeking an alternative to both Biden and Trump. At 59, she is 19 years younger than Trump and could make history as the first female president of the United States if she wins.
Harris’s campaign speeches are notably concise, often lasting no more than 30 minutes, and her rhetoric is far more direct in its criticism of Trump compared to Biden’s approach.
“We’re talking about two vastly different visions for the future of our country. While we focus on moving forward, the other side is fixated on the past,” she declared during a rally in Detroit on August 7th.
A Monmouth University poll released last week revealed that 85% of Democratic voters are enthusiastic about the election, nearly double the 46% recorded in June. Meanwhile, Republican enthusiasm has held steady at 71% over the past two months.
However, there are ongoing debates about Harris’s ability to win over moderate voters, as she has yet to significantly dent Trump’s support among Republicans and conservatives.
James Politi, an analyst from the Financial Times, cautions that Harris’s campaign will likely face its greatest threats from Republicans, including Trump, as they intensify their attacks on her record and policies.
Republicans have been vocal in criticizing Harris’s role in the White House, particularly concerning foreign policy, attributing the surge in illegal immigration across the southern border with Mexico to her leadership. They have also attempted to pin the blame for inflation and the economic challenges during Biden’s term squarely on her.
Labeling Harris as an “extreme leftist” who is soft on crime and overly liberal on social issues, Republicans have seized on her progressive stances from the 2020 primary race. Harris has firmly rejected these accusations.
Pete Hoekstra, the Republican Party chair in Michigan and a former U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, acknowledged that there has been “some shift” in public opinion toward Harris, but he maintained that “the bottom line is that certain realities cannot be ignored.
“People are struggling with grocery bills, insurance premiums, and gas prices,” he stated, underscoring the economic challenges that could shape the election’s outcome.
Strategists from both the Democratic and Republican camps agree: Kamala Harris will need to step into the spotlight far more in the coming weeks. Up until now, Harris has largely confined her appearances to official events and campaign rallies, keeping her interactions with the press to a minimum during her travels. She has yet to participate in any interviews since entering the race.
But that is about to change. Harris is set to deliver the most pivotal speech of her political career at this week’s Democratic National Convention, followed by an increase in campaign activities in the weeks to come. She is also scheduled for two televised debates with Donald Trump, one in early September and the other in late October.
“We’re in a situation where anything can happen. If she slips up at any moment, it could change everything,” remarked Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist in Washington.
The Vice President has begun rolling out some policy proposals, including banning price gouging on essential goods and promoting affordable housing, but these have yet to garner widespread enthusiasm.
Nick Cunningham, a real estate professional from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is not impressed with Harris as a candidate. He believes she was pushed into the role and admits to being “confused” by her policy stances, particularly on immigration. Cunningham hopes Trump wins because he believes it will lead to lower interest rates.
“For me, it makes sense to choose the man who did a pretty good job during his first term,” Cunningham stated.
However, not everyone shares this sentiment. Victoria Leicht, a 38-year-old physician assistant and self-described independent voter, leans towards the Democratic candidate.
“I’m probably going to vote for Kamala Harris,” she said, but cautioned that Harris needs to offer more detailed plans on how she intends to address the immigration crisis at the southern border, the conflict in Gaza, and financial issues.
