First, Vice President Kamala Harris went to Nevada to launch the reelection’s outreach campaign to Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and addressed the crowd as “longtime friends.”
Then, she was in Dallas to speak at the annual gathering of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Black sorority that she pledged as a student at Howard University, one of the most storied historically Black colleges in the country. She conveyed to her fellow “sorors” — sorority sisters — about the stakes of November's election.
Events she held on successive days this week illustrate how her racial identity and personal background could help President Joe Biden 's flagging reelection after his widely-panned June 27 debate performance, and make her a potentially formidable replacement if he withdraws.
Harris is the nation's first female vice president as well as the first Black woman and person of Asian descent to hold the role. The campaign swing allowed the vice president to exhort key elements of the Biden coalition by addressing her personal story more than squabbles among Democrats about whether Biden should bow out and let her be the party’s presidential nominee.
The vice president's mix of identities can sometimes perplex her detractors, but supporters argue it is an embodiment of America’s rich nuances. Throughout her campaign events this week, Harris sought to use her multifaceted identities and life story as a vehicle to defend universal American values such as freedom, justice and democracy.
Andrea Rodriguez Campos, a teacher in Las Vegas, was moved to tears as Harris described her upbringing and the importance of immigrant communities.
“I find that everything they’re supporting is so important,” Rodriguez Campos said of the Biden administration. “Being an immigrant myself, I mean, that’s why we’re here. Being able to see somebody like her reminds me that because she can, we all can.”
Biden has insisted he will not drop out of the election after his disastrous debate performance even as he faces growing dissension from Democrats on Capitol Hill and many donors. Harris and other potential replacements have said they still support Biden.
Still, former President Donald Trump and Republican allies are increasingly focusing their attacks on Harris anyway, often in language with racist and misogynist undertones. Trump has referenced Harris' past relationship with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and labeled her “Laffin' Kamala," a reference to frequent Republican attacks on how she laughs.
Harris at both events stuck to promoting Biden, not herself.
“We always knew this election would be tough, and the past few days have been a reminder that running for president of the United States is never easy,” Harris said Tuesday in Las Vegas. “But the one thing we know about our president, Joe Biden, is that he is a fighter and he is the first to say, when you get knocked down, you get back up.”
Keeping the spotlight on Biden didn't stop some in the crowd from wondering, though. Attendee John Chang said he thought the vice president performed well during the Las Vegas rally, despite saying he’d been underwhelmed by her previously.
“I’m here to evaluate,” Chang said. “I lean very strongly against Trump. But if Biden were to step out or just get sick or whatever and she steps up then it’s like so and now what? Can it be her?”
Some of the attendees of Tuesday’s event wore traditional Central and Southeast Asian dresses, others had leis common to Hawaiian culture, while some sported traditional Pacific Islander jewelry. Harris made a point of not just praising a crowd as filled with “longtime friends” but also calling Las Vegas “Hawaii’s ninth island.”
Both days, Harris emphasized being raised in a multicultural, multiracial household in San Francisco's Bay Area to attending Howard.
“We stand for this beauty and diversity and the promise of America,” she said.
On Wednesday, addressing AKA's 71st Boulé in Dallas, Harris declared, “I will address the topic at hand.” But she was referring to the sorority's legacy of fighting for civil rights over the decades — not the raging debate over Biden's chances in November.
The vice president was met with a resounding “skee-wee” from the crowd, a traditional greeting and affirming cheer for those in the sorority, as she entered and exited the group's “boulé,” or regular gathering.
The crowd was composed entirely of Black women — many wearing dresses in the sorority's standard color of pink and green — who said they considered Harris a sister. Some had on tiaras, while others cheered with pom-poms as Harris spoke.
Wearing a pink blazer herself, Harris recounted her journey to the sorority and how she said it enabled her path to the vice presidency.
Attendees also responded in unison and sustained applause when Harris said, “Soros, this is a serious matter,” referencing both the election and an adage of the sisterhood.
“In this moment, once again,” Harris said, “our nation is counting on the leaders of this room to guide us forward to energize, organize and mobilize.”
Weissert reported from Washington.
© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
48 Comments
wallace
Very few qualifications are needed to be president and vice president—American-born citizens over 35. Kamala Harris was born in California. Trump faked his uni qualifications.
bass4funk
Always, no worries
A lot of Blacks believe it.
No, wrong again
That liberals are misusing DEI, they are indeed
Now, that won’t happen anymore, ever.
bass4funk
She was accomplished indeed! Lol and she did serve.
Yes, just not her, but I do want her to run, seriously and I’m being sincere about that.
Maybe because they fit the qualifications to do the job, one is Hispanic as well.
Cards fan
Ah yes, other than being a black woman, Kamala Harris had no other qualifications like a law degree or being a US senator. Great point.
Back at you. Why are you condescending, Mr.
?
No, you didn't know, yet that didn't stop you from trying to wrongly correct me.
Why would assume the current VP was born in Jamaica?
Ramsey's Kitchen
A vote for Biden is a vote for her. Everyone knows Joe won't last four more years.
2 for the price of 1..clearance sale.
TokyoCarnivore
"That's right, both you and Poker didn't actually understand what a naturalized citizen is. I'm sure that isn't indicative of your grasp on politics. Not at all. ;)"
Well first off Cards Fan you don't know my politics, and why are you being so condescending towards me? I do know what naturalized citizenship means that's why i posted it, but what i didn't realize was that Kamala was born in the states, i have for some reason assumed she was born in Jamaca.
lincolnman
Huh?
Calm down and focus - you just admitted you believe in the racist Great Replacement Theory. Thank you for the frank admission...
Did, in the above post...
Thank you for proving my point...
Sure, while he runs from jail....ROFL...
Blacklabel
Kamala was hired because Joe promised a Black woman as VP.
that the only reason she is there. she came in last place in 2020 primary and dropped out in the beginning of it due to lack of any support from own party
hired only cause gender and skin color matches the requirement. That’s DEI.
plasticmonkey
She was. She was an accomplished prosecutor and senator.
Are you saying there are no black women in America who are qualified to be VP?
Also, why are two of your Lord 'n' Savior's VP candidates black?
Blacklabel
because they are disingenuous and change on demand same as Joe. He grew up Black, Polish, Catholic, Puerto Rican, Italian- changes every day.
now Kamala is relating as a Pacific-Islander too??
john b
my comment was cut off
Biden SAID he would choose a woman before he chose Harris, and he SAID he would choose a black woman for the supreme court before he chose Jackson. He didn't just CHOOSE these two women and leave us to infer that they were DEI hires; he SAID he would nominate them because they were women and black and then he CHOSE them. Is remembering that and reminding others 'DEI labeling'? Can you really condemn me as a racist for making a clear connection between what Biden said and did?
While writing about DEI here, I can't stop chuckling about the 'first openly gay transportation secretary' and what that might mean, and I'm not chuckling about what it might MEAN because I can't even guess?! Any guesses? What have we accomplished here?
Cards fan
That's right, both you and Poker didn't actually understand what a naturalized citizen is. I'm sure that isn't indicative of your grasp on politics. Not at all. ;)
Considering it's settled law, and I doubt it.
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/in-court-of-appeals/1501011.html
bass4funk
Say that think non-white discrimination towards whites is not discriminatory
Then the left should drop DEI
Never have, never will
Justifiably so.
https://www.heritage.org/civil-rights/commentary/dei-sold-way-promote-racial-harmony-does-just-the-opposite
Let the Dems run her, helps Trump and the GOP.
TokyoCarnivore
The bottom line is Kamala is an utter failure and the dems can not afford to have her as the nominee!
I stand corrected, if as you claim she was in fact born in Oakland and even though her parents where not citizens at the time of her birth, unfortunately PokerNCigars under the current laws she is eligible. I do hope Amendments will be made to stop the so called anchor baby rule!
I foresee a fight coming on this very subject
Cards fan
lol I do too: A naturalized citizen of a particular country is someone who has legally become a citizen of that country, although they were not born there.
Note, Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California.
lol Her parent's citizenship is irrelevant if she was born in the US and she was. Nice try.
Kamala harris is a natural born citizen.
Underworld
TokyoCarnivore
Harris is a “natural born citizen” of the U.S. as defined by the Constitution. Her parents’ citizenship status at the time of her birth does not affect her eligibility for the presidency.
deanzaZZR
I'm not a fan of Harris but the Dem party can craft a message for her highlighting her relative youth, multicultural background and legal mind. Harris would have a chance, not a big one but at least a chance if she somehow steps up to the challenge. Biden has zero chance.
TokyoCarnivore
Cards Fan you don’t even know what a naturalized citizen is,
Both her parents were not legalized American citizens at the time of her birth! So to answer your question, NO she's ineligible to be President
“no person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President.”
kurisupisu
6 months ago comments and calls for Biden to step down would not have been tolerated on the mass media.
The only detractors against Biden going now are the WH press briefing talking heads.
Even George Clooney has spoken out against Biden remaining.
Kamala Harris will be moving up sooner rather than later as there is a movement to oust Joe Biden.
There is now a congressional investigation on whether or not the truth regarding Biden’s cognition has been hidden.
White House staff have been subpoenaed as to their influence on Joe Biden.
Anyone interested in seeing who is pulling the strings should listen to the depositions of Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, and Ashley Williams in a soon to be held hearing.
Ramsey's Kitchen
Harris is the nation's first female vice president as well as the first Black woman and person of Asian descent to hold the role.
Meanwhile our "sharper than ever" ( according to team Biden ) Joe has declared himself to be a president of color too. omg.
Joe Biden said he is "proud" to be the first "black woman to serve with a black president" in his worst gaffe recorded. As the US celebrated Independence Day, the president appeared to get himself mixed up with his own vice-president, Kamala Harris. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-s-worst-gaffe-to-date-as-he-admits-he-s-proud-to-be-the-first-black-woman-to-serve-with-a-black-president
Cards fan
Wrong again. Being a "naturalized" citizen isn't required to be president. In fact, it isn't allowed.
Good think K. Harris is a citizen by birth.
lincolnman
Indeed - DEI labeling is racist - denying someone's qualifications and saying the only reason for their selection is their gender and/or race is the definition of racism and gender discrimination...
It is part and parcel of the far-right's racist agenda, encapsulated by the ingrained "Great Replacement Theory" hoax and their crusade to keep women pregnant, barefoot, and in the kitchen...
At least be honest like Gorka - he freely admits he doesn't like Harris because she's a women and she's "colored"...
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ex-trump-aide-sebastian-gorka-073843864.html
GBR48
What they should have done, when Biden was elected, was choose half a dozen promising Democrats for four years of PR and promotion, to see which would be the best option to run for the next election. And they could have been younger, to play the youth card v Trump.
Instead they did, um, pretty much nothing. That's if anyone does actually run the Democrat party.
So now their best option is for Harris to do what she would have done as VP, if required, and step up to the plate. Biden could switch to a running mate role if he wanted.
They were arrogant with Hillary Clinton. This time they have just been lazy. The progressive/centrist split is being leveraged by Netanyahu, but it is more damaging to see them split over something as basic as Biden running. It does Trump's work for him.
PokerNCigars
Actually, she isn't allowed to be president she isn't a naturalized citizen.
Tulsi Gabbard showed the world who Kamala really is.
“But I’m deeply concerned about this record. There are too many examples to cite but she put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana.
“She blocked evidence – she blocked evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row until the courts forced her to do so. She kept people in prison beyond their sentences to use them as cheap labor for the state of California.” Tulsi Gabbard
plasticmonkey
Absolute nonsense.
bass4funk
I don’t think so.
In other words, upholding discourse hinges on people not pointing out the crumbling Democrat infrastructure of their radical Marxist policies and how more and more Americans are rejecting them is all of a sudden demagoguery???
dagon
The MAGA meme makers are sure to take this out of context
lincolnman
Biden's VP extolling his virtues and praising his ethics and leadership...
Trump's VP? “It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year,” Pence said in an interview with Fox News Channel Friday. I believe anyone that puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States and anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again,”
https://apnews.com/article/pence-trump-endorsement-c05ffad1e20381fed3cfc87b7071ba4c
How's that for an endorsement from his "hand-picked" Deputy?
ROFL...
itsonlyrocknroll
Indeed GuruMick, naïve as my opinion may appear, USA is a genuine superpower, an innovator in business, a democracy like no other. its tech is unrivalled, Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Facebook the list is growing.
Ok not without its flaws.
However this coming 2024 US election is concerning to say the least.
bass4funk
DEI is racist. Hiring someone based on race or nationality? Wouldn’t it be better or make more sense to hire someone based on skill and merit? If I’m flying on a plane, I prefer an experienced pilot regardless of color or gender over someone inexperienced based on their color or gender.
lincolnman
No wonder we're seeing the racial slur "DEI hire" from our MAGA-friends here - it's the go-to racist dog whistle on Fox and Newsmaxx...
What a great way to increase their already pitiful standing with women and minorities - insult their accomplishments with a racial slur...
The Mullahs, The Taliban, and The MAGA...different religion, same principles and values..
GuruMick
Rockn Roll above.
"Only the most worthy candidate should sit in that chair "
Crikey....when did that last occur ?
Lincoln ?
bass4funk
Wait, question, so you don’t think James Clyburn and the Black Caucus supporting Biden’s nomination back in 2020 on the condition that Harris be put on the ticket as his VP wasn’t racist?
GuruMick
What is a "Greengrocer's Apostrophe " and what has it got to do with Kamala ?
Is there an AIPAC-type organisation representing fresh veg.?
More power to them I say !!!
Hervé L'Eisa
The only person who polls worse than Sleepy Joe is Harris. Recall just how badly she did in the primaries.
Every time she speaks she serves up a word salad, utter nonsense even worse than senile Pelosi.
itsonlyrocknroll
There is a propensity, necessity, a demand that to stand for leadership the candidates is chosen not on merit, on hard work, ambition, track record,
But on an agenda that demands racial, cultural, gender identity politics take centre stage, overriding a candidate genuine ability to be able to perform under pressure under the harshest of environments.
As President of the United State, there must be no short cuts, no toxic brand of Identify politics.
Only the most worthy candidate must sit in that big chair
lincolnman
And right on cue, we get the typical MAGA-racist outburst...
"Host Rob Schmitt asked Gorka, “Do these donors really think that Kamala Harris is going to do better in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania than Joe Biden would? I mean, that’s because it can’t be anybody else, right?”
Trump loyalist Gorka replied, “You’re being logical. Stop it. All right? She’s a DEI hire, right? She’s a woman. She’s colored. Therefore, she’s got to be good."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ex-trump-aide-sebastian-gorka-073843864.html
Someone needs to ask Repub Senator Tim Scott what he thinks of that comment...
EvilBuddha
Identity politics candidate LOL.
She is so unpopular that even her polls are not enough to beat Trump, and now Democrats can't remove her without kicking away the identity politics vote (Black, Asian, Indian, Jewish, Woman).
A vote for Biden is a vote for her.
A vote for Biden is a fourth term for Obama.
PTownsend
the above is another example of the binary thinking cult and other white male supremacists.
bass4funk
Neither would win, Harris has a serious PR problem that is legendary bad in political circles that she is extremely moody, volatile and toxic. She was appointed border czar and never went, just one of the many positions she got, but never fulfilled. Newsom won’t take care of his own state that he destroyed and he wants to run the U.S. the way he is running California?? Never going to happen.
Mr Kipling
She is a woman and non white. That is why and how she got her job.
3RENSHO
"What a choice you poor Americans' [sic] have."
The Greengrocer’s Apostrophe notwithstanding, then I tend to be in agreement...
GuruMick
What a choice you poor Americans' have.
PTownsend
Many of her detractors in the cult have a tendency to see things in binary terms: black or white, complexity indeed perplexes them. And when things get complex they often create 'theories' to justify their positions. An example wildfires result for many reasons, but rather than trying to understand them better, they create stories like "Jews hired aliens to use their UFO ET to fire lasers".
itsonlyrocknroll
“In this moment, once again,” Harris said, “our nation is counting on the leaders of this room to guide us forward to energize, organize and mobilize.”
Utter iggily biggily gobbledegook
Look if there is a simple choice between Kamala Harris or Joe Biden.
GO, Joe Biden even if you have to plug the fellow in, or work him with your foot
stormcrow
Hmm . . . VP Kamala Harris or Gov. Gavin Newsom.
She might be better at attracting the female vote and the minority votes, but Newsom might be better at getting those middle of the road white guys in the all important battleground states than Harris. Both are young enough to be Trump's children, and that's a good thing. Both of them are way smarter than Trump is. Oh, and neither of them is going to jump into bed with Putin if elected the way Trump wants to do. Oh, and neither of them are convicted felons like Trump is. Both of them look pretty good.
itsonlyrocknroll
Michelle Obama is Democrat only candidate that can rattle Donald Trump.
For these reasons alone.
Vice President Kamala Harris defends President Biden’s debate performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMBmrW6LzV0
Kamala Harris ‘unburdened’ by overuse of certain phrase
https://www.Kamala Harris ‘unburdened’ by overuse of certain phraseyoutube.com/watch?v=ipeaczmRACA
Nobody put those words in Kamala Harris mouth.
JJE
A vote for Biden is a vote for her.
Everyone knows Joe won't last four more years.