Ajay Butoria with VP kamala Harris. / Courtesy -Ajay Bhutoria

In a historic and unprecedented turn of events, President Joe Biden has decided to withdraw his candidacy for re-election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for President in 2024. This move has ignited a wave of support from a broad coalition of leaders and citizens alike.

President Biden, alongside Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, First Ladies Dr. Jill Biden and Michelle Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and numerous Democratic governors, members of Congress, and mayors, have all rallied behind Kamala Harris. Their collective endorsement underscores a unified commitment to ensuring that Donald Trump does not return to the White House.

Kamala Harris stands as a beacon of hope and leadership in a time when America is at a crossroads. Her candidacy represents a bold vision for the future, one that promises to strengthen democracy, protect reproductive rights, and create opportunities for every American to thrive. As we face a critical choice between a future built on progress and inclusion versus one driven by division and regression, Harris offers a compelling path forward.

The stakes of this election could not be higher. Donald Trump, having been convicted of crimes and running on an extreme agenda, threatens to undo the progress we have made. His Project 2025 plan aims to roll back rights and freedoms, undermine the middle class, and destabilize our democratic institutions. In stark contrast, Kamala Harris’s campaign is grounded in a commitment to preserving the gains of the past years while addressing the urgent needs of today.

Harris’s appeal spans across demographics, showing clear advantages with key voter groups essential for a victory. Among the Democratic base, Harris enjoys strong support from African American, Latino, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) voters, women, and young people. Her approval ratings among these groups surpass those of Trump by significant margins. Harris holds a +44 net approval rating from Black voters and leads Trump by 54 points within this demographic.

Latino voters show favorable impressions of Harris over Trump, particularly among undecided and independent Latinos. Among AANHPI voters, Harris has a positive approval rating that is 30 points higher than Trump’s. Furthermore, Harris’s net favorability among women and young voters exceeds Trump’s by 21 and 25 points, respectively.

This widespread support reflects not only her record but also her ability to connect with voters on the issues that matter most. Harris has been a champion for reproductive rights, upholding the rule of law, and tackling issues of systemic injustice. Her proactive stance on reproductive freedom and her leadership in the Biden-Harris administration’s response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade are significant factors in her favorability among women and young voters.

Moreover, Harris is well-positioned to build on the coalition that secured victory in 2020. Her ability to expand support beyond the Biden-Harris base by engaging voters who have leaned towards Democrats since the last election is crucial. This includes gaining favor with white, college-educated voters and seniors who have grown increasingly concerned about Trump’s extremism and legal troubles.

Indian American Votes: A Margin of Victory

Kamala Harris, with her Indian origin, brings an additional layer of excitement and support from the Indian American community. As someone whose mother hailed from Chennai, India, Kamala Harris is not just a candidate but a symbol of hope and representation for over 4.4 million Indian Americans. This community, historically engaged and influential, is poised to be a margin of victory in key battleground states.

Indian Americans are known for their high voter turnout rates and their commitment to civic engagement. In states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the Indian American vote can be the difference between winning and losing. The enthusiasm within the Indian American community for Kamala Harris is palpable. From coast to coast, Indian Americans are mobilizing, fundraising, and volunteering in unprecedented numbers to ensure her victory.

I am wholeheartedly endorsing Kamala Harris to be our next President. I am committed to mobilizing 4.4 million South Asian votes and raising additional funds for President-elect Kamala Harris. The energy and excitement within our community are unparalleled, and I believe that our collective efforts will help secure her path to the White House.

The road to 270 electoral votes, necessary for victory, is clear and achievable for Harris. Her campaign has strategically focused on the battleground states, including the Blue Wall states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, and the Sun Belt states of North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. With a robust campaign infrastructure, significant grassroots enthusiasm, and targeted outreach to key voter demographics, Harris is well-positioned to capitalize on these opportunities.

In the past week alone, the campaign has raised unprecedented amounts of funds and witnessed a surge in volunteer sign-ups. This grassroots support reflects the widespread belief in Harris’s vision and the urgent need to defeat Trump’s dangerous agenda. The enthusiasm for Kamala Harris is not only a testament to her leadership but also a clear indication of the broad-based support she commands across the nation.

Kamala Harris Shatters Records with $200 Million Fundraising and 170,000 Volunteers in First Week

• $200M raised in the first week
• 66% from first-time contributors
• 170,000 volunteers signed up
• 100 days until Election Day

Vice President Harris has been a candidate for less than a week, but she’s already coalesced the entire Democratic Party around her campaign, and the organic, grassroots enthusiasm is producing results. From record-breaking fundraising to unprecedented crowds and volunteers pouring into field offices across the battlegrounds, Team Harris is fired up to elect the Vice President and defeat the extremist Trump-Vance ticket.

The momentum and energy for Vice President Harris is real – and so are the fundamentals of this race: this election will be very close and decided by a small number of voters in just a few states. That’s why our campaign is harnessing the energy across the country for a weekend of action to mark 100 days out from the election (today!). Here’s what you need to know about Team Harris’ first week:

$200 Million Raised in Less Than a Week: Team Harris has raised $200 million since President Biden's endorsement last Sunday – a record-shattering haul. Of that amount, 66% came from first-time donors, further proof of the tremendous grassroots support for the Vice President.

Intense Support from Our Winning Coalition: The enthusiasm for Vice President Harris’s candidacy is uniting and growing our winning coalition - with endorsements from young voters, voters of color, labor, Barack and Michelle Obama, and countless more leaders and advocates. The party is so united behind Vice President Harris’s candidacy that she earned enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee barely 24 hours after announcing her campaign. Just this weekend, dozens of surrogates are joining Team Harris on the campaign trail.

Surging Volunteer Support: Since last Sunday, we’ve seen unprecedented grassroots support for the campaign across the country, with over 170,000 new volunteers joining Team Harris. We are not taking that excitement for granted – just this weekend, the campaign will mobilize thousands of grassroots supporters with more than 2,300 events in battleground states. We are also engaging supporters online and through traditional media, with the VP herself joining TikTok and gaining millions of followers since.

Organic, Grassroots Momentum: Winning campaigns are powered by real, organic support. This week, hundreds of thousands of supporters came together via calls to support the Vice President, and raised millions in the process – including shows of support from coalitions of Black women and men, Latinas, white women, the LGBTQ community, and more.

VP Harris Energizing Voters on the Campaign Trail: The Vice President herself was out on the campaign trail, energizing and inspiring supporters across the country – from rallying her team at campaign HQ to firing up an “exuberant” crowd at the largest rally of the campaign to-date in Milwaukee and “electric” remarks to the American Federation of Teachers. And she’s just getting started, next up: Atlanta on Tuesday.

As we move forward, it is imperative that we unite behind Kamala Harris. Her candidacy represents a chance to build on the progress we’ve made, protect our democratic values, and ensure that every American has the opportunity to succeed. With her leadership, we can overcome the challenges that lie ahead and chart a course towards a brighter, more inclusive future.

The choice is clear. Kamala Harris is the leader we need to guide America through this pivotal moment. Let us come together, mobilize our communities, and work tirelessly to secure her victory. The future of our nation depends on it.

 

The author is the Deputy National Finance Chair of the Democratic Party.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)