by Anita Saville
I fell in love with Kamala Harris during the summer of 2019, when I saw her speak at a standing-room-only rally in New Hampshire. I immediately volunteered for her presidential campaign in Nashua. I was excited to support another woman for president — especially a woman of color. What brought me into her office to make phone calls was her humor, sincerity, and passion for causes important to me. I was also taken by how she inspired a crowd and warmly welcomed supporters one to one.
No doubt you’ll hear friends and family ask whether Harris is the best person to beat Donald Trump. Some will say they don’t really know her or question what she has accomplished. Here are a few talking points I use to bring others into the fold.
She has outstanding qualifications.
While the mainstream media have not consistently covered Harris’ work, she’s been a hands-on vice president with a large portfolio of tough responsibilities. She’s constantly been in the room where things happen. Her individual successes include:
- Starting Central American Forward to find solutions to immigration issues
- Launching the Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour
- Chairing the National Space Council
- Overseeing the White House Office of Gun Violence Protection
- Strengthening ties with NATO allies
- Building coalitions to safeguard voting rights.
And that’s on top of seven years as attorney general of the largest state in the country — when she took on big banks, for-profit colleges, and drug cartels. She also put in five years as a U.S. senator — promoting legislation to secure U.S. elections, fight hunger, provide rent relief, improve maternal health care, help small businesses, rebuild America’s infrastructure, and address the climate crisis.
She can tout the many successes of the Biden Administration.
Harris is second only to Joe Biden in claiming credit for a wide range of wins in the last four years. These include:
- Taming a once-in-a-century pandemic
- Passing the American Rescue plan to keep our economy alive
- Adopting a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which created millions of new jobs
- Fighting climate change with huge investments in renewable energy
- Expanding overtime pay and raising the minimum wage for millions of workers
- Cracking down on predatory airline and banking fees
- Protecting same-sex and interracial marriages through the Respect for Marriage Act
- Lowering prescription drug prices and expanding health care reform
- Curbing assault weapons and expanding background checks
- Securing funds for affordable housing and education
She can generate money and enthusiasm — especially from key groups.
Less than 24 hours after Biden’s endorsement, a Win with Black Women Zoom call drew 44,000 attendees and raised $1.6 million for Harris. This was followed immediately by a call with black men and another with white women, who raised more than $8 million and actually “broke” Zoom. In fact, just about every demographic wants in on the Harris fundraising juggernaut — from women with cats to “white dudes,” Grateful Dead fans, and Republicans fed up with Trump.
Harris has also ignited huge support among young voters, who are going bonkers for her on social media.
The excitement that Harris inspires will spur voter registration, motivate infrequent voters, bring more volunteers into campaign offices, and win more donations. In the first 10 days of her campaign, more than $200 million poured in — with two thirds of donors contributing for the first time in this election cycle — as more than 175,000 new volunteers signed on. Voter registration is also up sharply.
This enthusiasm will help Democrats across the ballot.
She can go toe-to-toe with Trump — any time, anywhere.
From her time as a senator during the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, to hearings for the Mueller investigation and her debates prior to the 2020 primaries, Harris, the consummate prosecutor, has shown she can play smart offense and deftly put her opponents in their place. She challenges arrogance and ignorance frankly and elegantly, without nasty personal attacks.
When the felonious GOP candidate started to chicken out of debating,Harris pointed out that he seems to have a lot to say about her and challenged him to “Say it to my face.” Even if he refuses to share a stage with her, she will unrelentingly call him on his dangerous lies and many weaknesses — as she did during her first week as a candidate.
She has the fire in her belly to win.
Kamala has a long record of breaking barriers and has shown she can unify Democrats — not an easy feat! Part of the magic may be her full-throated acceptance of the challenges ahead. She can clearly articulate why we must keep Trump out of office and what our brighter future under her leadership would look like. She pulls no punches while defending our democracy, fighting to restore reproductive rights, and building an economy that works for everyone.
And she has a secret weapon: Doug Emhoff, the current second gentleman, who is a great speaker as well. Her choice of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as a running mate will beautifully complement Harris’ take-no-prisoners style.
Ready for our first woman president and a new generation of leadership? Watch for carefully vetted volunteer opportunities to help Harris each week in our newsletter and Action Springboard. Then share your excitement with others!
Leave a Reply