US Election: Kamala Harris Has Worked a Miracle, but Now She Needs To Do Even More

Before Monday’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, it is impossible to predict who will win the U.S. presidential election in November. That alone is a great success for Harris.

Joe Biden resisted pressure to drop his reelection bid for so long that when he finally did, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and other top Democratic Party activists decided there was no time left to promote an entirely new candidate. As a result, they chose to bet on current Vice President Kamala Harris. It was a risky choice. For many Americans, who feel threatened by globalization and rapid changes in society, sending a woman from an ethnic minority background to the White House is a leap into the unknown. We’re talking about a huge chunk of the population, which is said would have backed Donald Trump for a second term in 2020 if it had not been for the pandemic.

The Outcome of the U.S. Election Will Be Determined by Seven States — Trump Is No Longer Sure of Winning

Within the four weeks that have passed since Biden stepped down, Harris has managed to do something extraordinary. After a disastrous TV debate with Trump in late June, Biden had virtually no chance of winning. He too often confused people and facts to convince the American people that he still had the capacity to fulfill the most responsible role in the world.

However, as Democratic Party delegates gather in Chicago, it is a close fight again. Michigan, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina — the key states that until recently seemed to overwhelmingly support Trump, are now torn between the two candidates. The stakes are so high that both Republicans and Democrats have invested almost a quarter of a billion dollars in the campaign there in the past two weeks. If Harris could get her way there and keep Pennsylvania, Arizona and Wisconsin, she’d probably have the election sewn up. In particular, she has restored the trust of young voters, ethnic minorities and women — the part of society that allowed Biden to defeat Trump four years ago.

For Harris, the Hardest Part Is Still Ahead

Yet nothing is certain. Black clouds are also gathering over Harris’ campaign. The novelty effect is wearing off. The state of the economy remains uncertain. The vice president has not yet dared to face giving a real interview, and the debate with Trump has just been entered into the calendar. She will then have to defend herself on issues that are uncomfortable for her, such as the immigration policy failure or rising prices that are commonly felt.

Harris has accomplished a great deal. But the hardest part is still ahead of her.