Article:
In a striking statement from Kamala Harris, the vice presidential nominee for the Democrats in the 2020 electoral race, she opined that every candidate must ‘earn’ voter support. This comment turned heads for the reason that Harris, before becoming a vice-presidential nominee, did not participate in the primaries. It beckons the question of how a candidate earns voter’s support if they don’t fully participate in the electoral process.
Harris’ statement came during a time when candidate nomination systems and party operations are being questioned, broadly. The crux of the matter lies within the democratic norms that are perceived as given a back seat to party strategies, leaving voters feeling disenfranchised. Most importantly, Harris’s message raises an dispute over the idea of how a candidate must earn votes.
‘Earning’ the support of voters traditionally refers to crafting policy, delivering engaging speeches, and showing up to the campaign trail diligently. The process of primaries serves as a mini electoral battle preserving the well-practiced principle of democracy. Voters through this process refine their choices, analyze the potential of each candidate, and eventually decide, based on their performance, who to support. However, when a candidate bypasses this process, like Harris, it leaves many unanswered questions for voters.
The skip of the primaries before Harris’s nomination as Joe Biden’s running mate was met with a bewildering reaction from certain sections. Critics argued that such a trajectory undermines the need for primary elections and questioned if she had truly earned her nomination. Defenders, however, suggested that this method represents a different, yet equally valid way to earn voter support. As a seasoned politician, Harris boasts a significant public service record and is a known quantity in political circles, which could, arguably, nullify the need for her participation in the primaries.
Those who support Harris’s strategy argue that candidates can ‘earn’ votes in numerous other ways — such as through their service records, their achievements, and their stance on key issues. They contend that the relationship between the candidate and their voters extends beyond the period of primaries or the electoral campaign.
There’s a pertinent question to be asked here – can one truly ‘earn’ voter support without participating in the democratic primary process? No direct answer exists. It rather depends on the voters’ interpretation of what constitutes ‘earning’ their support.
At a critical moment in American history, Kamala Harris’s ascent to the vice-presidential nominee without participating in primaries has sparked a debate about the constantly evolving nature of democratic norms and conventions. Through this, her words on ‘earning’ support reflect a broader debate which underlines the balance between party politics and democratic principles.
All said and done, the statement from Harris about earning voter support opens a new discourse within American politics about the electoral process and the definitions of earning a voter’s support. What remains certain is that the dialogue surrounding this issue will continue to evolve along with the political landscape of the US.
