Joe Biden exits, Kamala Harris top contender: Is America ready to vote a woman into the White House?

United States President Joe Biden, 81, announced his decision to end his re-election campaign, endorsing US Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden stated on X. He continued, “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.”

My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

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Biden’s decision followed weeks of pressure from Democratic lawmakers and donors who were concerned about his ability to endure another term due to his age and health.

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Harris, in turn posted that she intended to “earn and win this nomination.”

On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country.

I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 21, 2024

The Democratic Party is gearing up for a historic gamble by considering Harris as its presidential candidate. They are betting that a Black woman can overcome the challenges of racism, sexism, and her political history to defeat Republican Donald Trump.

In over two centuries of American democracy, voters have elected only one Black president and never a woman, casting doubts even among some Black voters about Harris’s chances to break through these historical barriers.

How is Harris’ potential candidature being seen?

Harris, 59, who is two decades younger than Trump, is a prominent advocate for abortion rights, a critical issue resonating with younger voters and the progressive base of the Democratic Party.

Her candidacy is seen by proponents as an opportunity to energise these voters, consolidate Black support, and showcase her formidable debating skills against Trump. However, Harris faces significant challenges. With only three months to campaign, she needs to unite the party and donors behind her quickly.

Her approval ratings, while low, are slightly better than Biden’s. According to Five Thirty Eight, 38.6 per cent of Americans approve of Harris, while 50.4 per cent disapprove. Biden’s approval stands at 38.5 per cent, with a 56.2 per cent disapproval rating.

In a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, Harris and Trump were tied with 44 per cent support each, according to a July 15-16 Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted after an assassination attempt on Trump. Trump led Biden 43 per cent to 41 per cent in the same poll, though the 2 percentage point difference was within the poll’s 3 percentage point margin of error.

What do Americans think about a woman president?

A 2023 Pew Research study highlighted the perception that women are equally or better suited than men in key leadership qualities. The study revealed that 92 per cent of respondents believed a woman president would be as good or better at working out compromises and maintaining a respectful tone in politics, 94 per cent at being honest and ethical, 90 per cent at standing up for what she believes in despite political pressure, and 87 per cent at working well under pressure.

Also Read | Kamala Harris and her deep India connection: From loving good idli to childhood memories of Chennai

Melinda French Gates had echoed the need for more women in government in a 2023 Time article, stating, “While no one would claim that women are a monolith who support any one party or agenda, there is evidence that women govern differently, working more collaboratively across party lines and introducing legislation on issues that have historically gone unaddressed.”

But what does history say?

The US elected Barack Obama, the first Black president, in 2008, and Hillary Clinton, the only woman to head a major party’s presidential ticket, lost to Trump in 2016.

Harris, the first woman and the first Black and South Asian person to serve as vice president, has faced and is expected to continue facing unfair attacks related to her race and gender. Despite this, her supporters argue that she is prepared for these challenges.

Harris has faced criticism for her initial years as vice president, her short-lived 2020 presidential campaign, and the historical weight of racial and gender discrimination in the US. However, her standing in the party has improved, especially with her advocacy for reproductive rights following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Is the Democratic party ready to back her?

Despite her achievements, some Democrats remain wary. Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez remarked on Instagram, “If you think that there is consensus among the people who want Joe Biden to leave that they will support Kamala - Vice President Harris - you would be mistaken. There’s no safe option.” Concerns about Harris’s earlier political missteps and the broader societal issues of racism and sexism persist.

Supporters, however, point to her greater name recognition compared to other potential Democratic candidates like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. They argue that while Harris has her flaws, these are known and can be managed in a campaign, unlike the uncertainties surrounding other candidates.

How has Trump treated Harris?

Trump has consistently used racist and sexist rhetoric against Harris. In 2020, he falsely suggested that Harris, born in California, did not qualify to be a candidate for vice president. At a recent rally in Michigan, Trump mocked her, saying, “I call her Laughing Kamala. You ever watch her laugh? She’s crazy.” Such attacks echo his earlier false claims about Obama’s citizenship, which gained traction among his far-right supporters.

Critics have accused Trump of perpetuating racial and gender biases, which could influence the electorate. Harris’s role in defending reproductive rights and other progressive issues has been significant, with Biden crediting her for helping to prevent a “red wave” of Republican victories in the 2022 midterm elections.

As Harris steps into the spotlight, her potential presidency represents a significant generational and cultural shift for the United States. The question remains whether America is ready to embrace this change and elect a woman, and specifically a woman of colour, to its highest office.

With inputs from agencies