LAST week, Kamala Harris, US Vice President, on the eve of the concluding session of Democratic National Convention (NDC) held in Chicago United Centre (22 August), formally accepted her nomination for the US presidency against the Republican Presidential nominee, Donald Trump, in presence of her encouraging and supportive husband Doug Emhoff. Kamala’s future approach is richly reflected in her election campaign speeches which strongly focus on key foreign and domestic issues, particularly her standing among likely voters in the pivotal Sun Belt and Blue Wall states. Conversely, the Trump election campaign has undergone moral and political challenges—particularly his trail before the Washington Court has largely dented his popularity in his supporters.
Credit goes to Kamala amid her vice presidential activities, she formally launched her campaign, and she has secured strong backing from key segments of the Democratic Party’s base, notably US ‘young voters and people of colour, including the donors and the top Democratic lawmakers. Moreover, Kamala’s pragmatic selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, has given a new strength to her political campaign— re-energizing the Democratic camp—generating about $ 540 m within a month.
So far, the blowing political winds whisper about the dominating edge of Democratic Kamala over her Republican counterpart, Donald Trump. Democrats’ top line, including Kamala has backed the Biden Administration’s fundamental approach to the war in the Gaza Strip: push for de-escalation, help broker a cease-fire that includes the return of hostages, and promote a two-state solution. Both former first ladies, Hillary Clinton and Mitchelle Obama have been Kamala’s ardent supporters.
Kamal’s critics argue that reticence is a sign that she lacks both a foreign policy vision and deep expertise. Whereas her supporters don’t agree with this, rather, they believe that she has gained a great deal of foreign policy experience as Vice President. Whereas the facts reveal that Kamala Harris has been notably active in foreign policy as Vice President, demonstrating a stable and well-respected approach. Paramount features of her profile include her involvement in US external relations espoused by her interest in global affairs, also endorsed by her collaboration with a competent foreign policy team. In addition, her national security adviser, Phil Gordon, and his Deputy, Rebecca Lissner, are her big assets who served in previous Democratic Presidential administrations. As for the NATO and Ukraine, Kamala has taken a strong stance in their favour.
Nevertheless, a world view suggests that the top line of the US Democratic Presidents — right from President Roosevelt to Joe Biden – seem to have had preserved Woodrow Wilson’s political DNA in their foreign policy narratives. Exclusively, Kamala’s foreign policy orientation may be a demonstration of a twin combination of foreign policy doctrine –embracing the respective legacies of idealism and realism. Make no mistake, an Israeli-fixed US foreign policy is a recipe for US’ isolationism. As for the South Asian perspective, Kamala’s administration approach— must be expected to reflect a transcendental foreign policy—an equality -based US approach vis-à-vis India and Pakistan. This approach should be accommodated with a humanitarian resolution on the Kashmir dispute, a 77 year old issue, marring the scope of bilateral relations between New Delhi and Islamabad.
On the domestic front, Kamala seems to have marked a deep contrast to Trump in terms of key issues such as abortion, immigration and taxation. One of the reasons Trump is failing to land that message is the Harris campaign’s strategy of putting proposals to try to lower the cost of living at the heart of her pitch. Harris charged Trump with trying to cut Social Security and Medicare, repeal Obamacare and with successfully constricting reproductive rights by way of a Supreme Court whose conservative turn for which he proudly takes credit. If he returns to the White House, Harris suggested, Trump would be all but unstoppable. In her 37 minutes Chicago speech on August 22, she emerged as a leading voice for the Americans. ‘’I promise to be a president for all Americans,” she said. “You can always trust me to put country above party and self. To hold sacred America’s fundamental principles, from the rule of law, to free and fair elections, to the peaceful transfer of power.
Ostensibly, the key flaws in Trump’s election campaign include internal factions among supporters accompanied by differing opinions on critical issues like healthcare and taxes, and challenges in appealing to moderate voters. To some extent, his election campaigns have also faced issues conveying contradictory messaging led by a backlash to controversial statements. On the front of external relations, Trump has taken an anti-NATO; yet a pro-Israeli stand on the Gaza war and whereas he has taken a very weak stance on climate change treaty, whilst having an unclear stance on the Ukraine issue. Apparently he seems to have claimed he would quickly end the Ukraine war if re-elected, indicating a willingness to pursue reconciliatory negotiations. Interestingly, Donald Trump who has some health issues, also intends to skip the most pivotal one to one debate with Kamala (scheduled on September 10 at ABC).
Notably, in May the Pew Research survey reflected the impression of double negatives: Indicating unfavourable opinions of both Biden and Trump. That was the highest share expressing negative views of both candidates in surveys dating back to the 1988 presidential election. Today, however, the share of these “double negatives” has fallen to 14%. As compared to the May Survey, currently, Kamala holds an edge over Trump in Sun Belt states (Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Nevada), including Blue Wall states, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania respectively. Nonetheless, Harris has a support of 84% Black Americans and 14% of Hispania voters. But the pattern of change in voters ‘mind-set is an indication that as they learn more, their tilt is changed. Kamala and her aides have reserved more than $270 million in television ads in the 73 days from Friday through 5 Nov. But the grand verdict regarding the 47th US presidential race will be delivered by the American public on 5 November 2024.
—The writer, an independent ‘IR’ researcher-cum-international law analyst based in Pakistan, is member of European Consortium for Political Research Standing Group on IR, Critical Peace & Conflict Studies, also a member of Washington Foreign Law Society and European Society of International Law. He deals with the strategic and nuclear issues.
