Kamala Harris’ Defining Political Test

Kamala Harris has prepared to accept the Democratic presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week.

Harris, 59, has long faced skepticism within her party about her capability to ascend to the nation’s highest office, including from President Joe Biden, whom she continues to serve as vice president.

Since being named the Democratic nominee in mid-July, Harris has seen a surge in support, reflected in improved polling numbers, increased fundraising, and large crowds at rallies nationwide.

However, the momentum she currently enjoys was far from guaranteed.

Her initial bid for the presidency in 2019 was short-lived, and her vice presidency has been marked by early struggles, including high-profile missteps, staff turnover, and low approval ratings.

For much of her tenure in the White House, Harris struggled to connect with voters.

Over the past few years, however, Harris has honed her political skills, built strong alliances within the Democratic Party, and established herself as a credible advocate on key issues like abortion rights, which are central to the Democratic base.

Advisors say she has been preparing for this moment, sharpening her strategy and solidifying her standing within the party.

Harris will formally accept the Democratic nomination on Thursday, giving her a chance to reintroduce herself to the nation just under 80 days before an election that could see her become the first female president in U.S. history.

However, she also faces the task of uniting a party that has not always viewed her as its natural leader and remains divided over ongoing international conflicts, including the war in Israel and Gaza.

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Beyond party unity, Harris must address lingering doubts among Democrats about her ability to defeat former President Donald Trump in what is expected to be a close and unpredictable race.

Harris’s political journey began long before she reached the national stage.

As San Francisco’s district attorney and later as California’s attorney general, she gained a reputation as a rising star, earning the endorsement of President Barack Obama in her 2010 campaign for attorney general.

However, her career has not been without controversy, such as her decision not to seek the death penalty for a man convicted of killing a police officer, while later upholding the state’s death penalty despite her opposition to it.

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 on the same night Donald Trump won the presidency, Harris quickly made headlines for her direct questioning during Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s contentious 2018 confirmation hearings.

“Can you think of any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body?” Harris famously asked Kavanaugh, a moment that quickly went viral.

Like Obama, Harris was seen as a young, ambitious senator when she launched her first presidential campaign midway through her first Senate term.

That campaign drew significant attention, with over 20,000 people attending its launch in her hometown of Oakland, California.

However, her bid for the Democratic nomination faltered before the first primary votes were cast, as critics argued she struggled to carve out a distinct political identity in a crowded field that included Biden and left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders.

As she prepares to accept the nomination, Harris faces the challenge of proving she has the vision, leadership, and conviction to lead the Democratic Party to victory in November.

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Stephen Jesuwale

Jesuwale Stephen is a journalist who finished from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. He is a distinctive writer, media strategist and also a Digital Marketer