Long-doubted, Kamala Harris seizes her biggest political moment

WASHINGTON — Kamala Harris is set to take the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week as the party’s presidential nominee, a moment that marks a significant turn in her political journey.

At 59, Harris has faced years of skepticism from within her own party about her ability to run for the highest political office, including from President Joe Biden, whom she continues to serve as vice president.

Since replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee in mid-July, Harris has seen a surge of enthusiasm for her candidacy, reflected in polling, fundraising, and large crowds at rallies across the country. However, this momentum wasn’t always guaranteed. After a short-lived presidential bid in 2019 and a rocky start as vice president, marked by staff turnover and low approval ratings, Harris struggled to connect with American voters.

Over the years, Harris has sharpened her political skills, built loyal coalitions within her party, and established credibility on key issues like abortion rights. These efforts have prepared her for this pivotal moment. As she formally accepts the Democratic nomination on Thursday, with less than 80 days until the election, Harris has the opportunity to reintroduce herself on the national stage and prove that she is capable of leading a party that has not always seen her as its natural leader.

Her journey to this point has not been easy. After failing to carve out a clear political identity during her 2019 presidential campaign, Harris was criticized for endorsing a range of progressive policies without showing strong conviction. Despite a breakthrough moment in a 2019 debate where she challenged Biden’s record on racial desegregation, her campaign ultimately collapsed before the first primary vote.

Eight months later, Biden chose Harris as his running mate, making her the first woman of color to be nominated for the vice presidency. In January 2021, she became the first female vice president in U.S. history. However, her vice presidency was marked by early missteps, including a controversial interview during a foreign trip to Guatemala and Mexico.

Harris’s allies argue that she faced immense pressure from the start, with high expectations placed on her as the first woman and person of color in the role. Over time, she took on a larger foreign policy role and became the administration’s leading voice on abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. Her efforts helped galvanize voters during the midterm elections, laying the groundwork for her current presidential run.

As she prepares to address the Democratic convention, Harris will need to sharpen her messaging on key issues like crime, inflation, the economy, and immigration. She also faces challenges in clarifying her left-leaning positions from her 2019 campaign.

Despite the challenges, Harris’s allies believe she is prepared to seize this moment. Having built a deep political network over the years, she has united the Democratic Party behind her candidacy and is ready to take on former President Donald Trump in what promises to be a tight and unpredictable election. — BBC