Salman Rushdie Backs Kamala Harris: A Key Endorsement in the 2024 Presidential Race
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/29th July 2024
Renowned Mumbai-born author Salman Rushdie has publicly endorsed Kamala Harris, the leading Democratic presidential candidate for the 2024 election. In a recent statement, Rushdie highlighted Harris as the best choice to prevent former President Donald Trump from steering the United States towards authoritarianism. His support comes amid rising interest in Harris’s candidacy following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race.
Rushdie’s endorsement, delivered during a virtual event titled “South Asian Men for Harris,” reflects a broader trend of prominent Indian-American figures rallying behind Harris. The Indian-American community has increasingly thrown its weight behind Harris, who has also secured endorsements from three out of five Indian-American Representatives.
Rushdie, who described himself as a boy from Bombay, expressed pride in seeing an Indian woman vie for the White House. He also noted his personal connection, given that his wife is African-American. This dual heritage adds to the significance of Harris’s candidacy in the eyes of Rushdie and many others in the Indian-American community.
During his endorsement, Rushdie emphasized that his support was based on Harris’s leadership qualities rather than merely shared ethnicity. He contrasted Harris with other Indian-American political figures, stating, “We would not be gathering in this way let’s say for Usha Vance or Nikki Haley,” referring to the Indian-American spouse of Republican Vice-Presidential nominee JD Vance and the former South Carolina governor, respectively.
Rushdie praised Harris for her transformative impact on American politics, noting that her candidacy has injected a sense of optimism and forward-thinking into the political landscape. He is convinced that Harris is the right person to prevent Trump from achieving another term and described Trump as a “hollow man” who poses a threat to democratic values.
Harris officially declared her candidacy for the presidency on July 20, following Biden’s withdrawal. She is anticipated to be formally nominated as the Democratic candidate next month. Rushdie’s support underscores the urgency of rallying voters and mobilizing the community to back Harris.
The acclaimed author also commented on the role of charisma in American politics, suggesting that Harris’s appeal and dynamic presence contrast sharply with Trump’s diminishing star power. He believes that Harris’s charisma could be crucial in the upcoming election.
Rushdie has called upon Americans, including the writing community, to use their influence to support Harris’s campaign. With the presidential election only 100 days away, he emphasized the importance of active participation and mobilization.
Addressing concerns about Harris’s potential barriers due to her Black and Indian heritage, Rushdie acknowledged that such issues might have been relevant in the past. However, he believes that current attitudes towards women’s leadership and racial diversity have evolved significantly. He is optimistic that Harris can overcome these challenges and secure a decisive victory.
Recent polls showing Harris in a competitive position against Trump reinforce Rushdie’s optimism. He remains hopeful that with continued support and belief, Harris can achieve a strong performance in the election.
The event where Rushdie made his endorsement was co-hosted by Sree Sreenivasan, CEO and Co-founder of Digimentors, and featured notable figures such as Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, co-founder Harini Krishnan, and Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija.
