When Kamala Harris takes the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week as the party’s presidential nominee, she will do so with the knowledge that many in the audience who are now cheering her on once doubted her abilities. Despite facing skepticism from within her own party, including from President Joe Biden, whom she now serves as vice president, Harris has seen a surge in enthusiasm, reflected in polling, fundraising, and large crowds at her rallies across the country since becoming the Democratic nominee in mid-July. This momentum was not guaranteed, as she had previously struggled in a short-lived presidential bid and faced challenges in her early days as vice president. However, Harris has worked to sharpen her political skills, build alliances within her party, and establish credibility on key issues like abortion rights. As she prepares to formally accept the Democratic nomination on Thursday, Harris has the opportunity to reintroduce herself to the nation and prove her capability to lead a party that initially did not view her as a natural leader. Despite her past struggles, Harris has positioned herself to potentially become the first female president of the United States in the upcoming election. Her journey from San Francisco district attorney to California attorney general to US Senator has been marked by successes and controversies, including her direct questioning of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and her failed 2020 presidential bid. Now, as she faces the challenge of defeating former president Donald Trump in a close and unpredictable contest, Harris must address any remaining doubts among Democratic supporters about her ability to lead. BBC She was the first woman of color ever nominated for that position, and in January 2021, she made history as the first female vice-president in US history.
A challenging start
Five months into her role as Mr. Biden’s vice-president, Ms. Harris faced her first public misstep during a trip to Guatemala and Mexico.
The purpose of the trip was to highlight her efforts to address economic issues affecting migrants from Central America coming to the US southern border, a task assigned to her by Mr. Biden.
However, her trip was overshadowed by an uncomfortable interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt, where she evaded questions about why she hadn’t visited the US-Mexico border yet.
During a press conference with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei later that day, Ms. Harris attempted to redirect the conversation by delivering a clear message to potential migrants: “Do not come.”
Despite echoing the same sentiments as other officials, her comments faced criticism from both Republicans and progressives, leading to negative reactions on social media.
Immigration issues continued to pose challenges for Ms. Harris, with critics pointing fingers at the White House for inadequate preparation and assigning her a difficult task. As the first woman, African-American, and Asian-American vice-president, she faced high expectations from the beginning, leaving little room for adjustment.
In the following months, Ms. Harris encountered more scrutiny, including high staff turnover, negative media coverage, and limited public appearances due to Covid restrictions, which led to perceptions of her being invisible.
Critics labeled her as a mere prop during bill-signing ceremonies, prompting her team to remove her from such events, further fueling criticism of her absence.
As her team worked on improving her public image, Ms. Harris took on a more prominent role in foreign policy, addressing issues like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and tensions with China.
However, a leaked draft opinion in May 2022 regarding the Roe v Wade abortion ruling presented a significant political challenge. Ms. Harris seized the opportunity to be a leading voice on the issue, which influenced the midterm elections and helped Democrats perform better than expected.
In her efforts to become a prominent figure on abortion rights, Ms. Harris engaged in coalition-building efforts across local and state politics, laying the groundwork for a potential future presidential bid.
Her eye on a 2028 presidential run, Ms. Harris faced rumors of replacing Mr. Biden on the ticket after his debate performance against Donald Trump. Despite some Democrats and pundits suggesting other candidates, Mr. Biden surprised many by endorsing Ms. Harris as his successor in July.
She quickly took action to prepare for the new role. Durante el transcurso de 10 horas ese domingo, llamó a más de 100 funcionarios del partido, miembros del Congreso, líderes sindicales y activistas. En cuestión de días, cualquier posible rival, incluidos los poderosos gobernadores, se alinearon y quedó claro que tomaría el manto demócrata sin un desafío serio.
Harris rápidamente unió al Partido Demócrata detrás de ella, lo que fue seguido por un entusiasta impulso de energía en el ciclo electoral. Como candidata, la vicepresidenta aún no ha presentado un agenda política detallada o se ha sentado para una entrevista difícil con los medios. Publicó un plan económico el viernes, pidiendo recortes de impuestos para las familias y un mayor impulso para limitar los precios de los medicamentos, su visión más detallada para el país hasta ahora.
A pesar de que los republicanos la acusan de evitar el escrutinio, el equipo a su alrededor no ve prisa en detener el impulso que ha construido en el último mes. Estrategas políticos dicen que la campaña está en lo correcto al capitalizar la “subida de azúcar”.
“Lo que Kamala Harris está experimentando es una demanda masiva acumulada de personas que quieren votar por cualquier persona que no se llame Biden o Trump”, dijo el Sr. Madden, ex ayudante de Romney y estratega de comunicaciones republicano. “Pero la prueba siempre viene al ser expuesto a entrevistas, la prensa, debates y la dura luz de una campaña.” The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)