Asians, especially South Asians, are uniting behind Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democrat from California who on Wednesday became the first woman of Asian descent, the first woman of color and the first woman of Indian ancestry to become a candidate for vice president of the United States. This unity also bodes well for Democratic Party presidential candidate, Joe Biden.
And, this early, there's also buzz in the U.S. that Harris is now the leading Democratic candidate for president in 2024.
In her virtual acceptance speech, Harris repeatedly referred back to her Indian and Asian roots. She especially praised the huge influence on her of her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who died in 2009. Her mother, who was born in Madras, immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s when she was only 19 years old. Harris even preceded her formal acceptance of the nomination as vice president by referring to her mother.
"On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States of America," Harris said, referring to her mother.
American political analysts say Harris's background will appeal to Asian-American voters, the fastest growing demographic of eligible voters among the major racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., said Pew Research. Some 1.1 million new Asian-American voters cast their ballots in the 2016 presidential election.
In 2016, 69 percent of Asian-Americans voted for Hillary Clinton. On the other hand, 77 percent of Indian-Americans voted for Clinton, confirming their Democratic leanings. In the 2018 midterm election, 50 percent of Indian-Americans identified themselves as Democrats.
"I think even before the Harris pick, Asian-Americans were probably going to be on track for record increases in voter turnout," said Karthick Ramakrishnan, director of the National Asian American Survey.
He thinks the Harris nomination will "very likely increase turnout in the Asian-American population, and particularly among young Asian-Americans and even more so Indian-Americans."
Many key battleground states, which a candidate must win, have large Asian-American and Indian-American populations. Asian-Americans comprise 5.7 percent of the electorate in Minnesota. They comprise 4.7 percent in Georgia, 4.6 percent in Arizona and 3.7 percent in Florida.
"When Asian-Americans are on the ballot, more Asian-American voters do come out," said Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke, president and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies.
"It can also be assumed that the Indian-American community especially or South Asians will be interested in learning more about [Harris] as a candidate."
Harris, the devoted daughter of an Indian mother and a Black Jamaican who both immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s, set herself on the road to this lofty goal Wednesday by accepting her party's nomination as Joe Biden's running mate.
Speaking before Harris made her acceptance speech, CNN commentator Van Jones said Harris is now a strong contender for the presidency of the U.S. in 2024. Jones had made this claim before. In late June he tweeted: "If Kamala Harris were president of the United States I would sleep like a baby. She is not to be messed with."
And even Joe Biden, who's 77, recognizes his age might preclude his seeking re-election. Hence, his stated preference for a running mate who's "ready on day one to be president of the United States." Biden has also said he needs someone younger and more energetic to handle the job of the presidency should he be unable to complete his term.
