US President Joe Biden’s decision to endorse Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate has infused energy and enthusiasm within the party and now it a chance to win back the White House, Prominent Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has said.
Over the weekend, Vice President Harris was endorsed by Biden, who announced his decision to drop out of the White House race.
On Wednesday, he told the nation he did so to unite the party, which was feeling disappointed after Biden’s disappointing performance in the debate against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
“It is exciting. I mean, I think there is no other word for it. It is exciting. It has brought a lot of energy, enthusiasm and positivity within the Democratic Party,” Congress member Raja Krishnamoorthi said in an interview to PTI.
Krishnamoorthi, a 51-year-old Democratic Party lawmaker from Illinois, said he plans to campaign for Harris in the crucial electoral state of Wisconsin on Saturday.
“She has entered the fray and has been very warmly received. I think people realize that nothing is guaranteed, but we have a chance. We have a chance now to win back the White House and we need someone who can make our case to Donald Trump. I can’t think of anyone better at this point than Kamala Harris who can do that,” Krishnamoorthi said.
Three days after becoming the party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Harris’ The campaign raised over $130 million.
‘If you do that every three days, it’s going to be a huge amount at some point. It’s really a fantastic amount. Having said all that, we’re up against forces that can get unlimited amounts of money. So, it’s significant that he’s been able to raise so much money from so many people. Remember, these are grassroots supporters who are putting up the money, and I think that’s a big deal,’ he said.
Responding to a question on the rise of Indian Americans in politics, Krishnamoorthi, who is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Oversight and Reform, said they are following the same old path that various immigrants have trodden in this country.
“There’s an old saying in Washington DC, if you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu. Now, I think Indian Americans in a big way are creating a seat at the table and making sure that their issues are addressed, their concerns are addressed, and they are contributing to society as a whole and will continue to contribute,” he said.
He said there will be a continued need to mobilize resources over the next 100 days, but there’s also a need to be disciplined in crafting a message, in talking about priorities, in making sure that these priorities are ones that resonate with ordinary people and families who are watching carefully to see whether the person in the White House or the next person to come into the White House will fight for them.
In response to a question, Krishnamurthy said that the next President will have many responsibilities.
“I think the next president is going to have to deal with some of the issues that voters are very concerned about right now, like protecting reproductive freedom, making sure we take care of the border and the immigration system, which are really intertwined. We’re going to have to solve the problems of our legal immigration system, which is a mess, and deal with the border as well,” she said.
“They also want an elected official who can look to the future. What are the challenges of the future? How do you beat the Chinese Communist Party in this global technological competition? How do we make sure that we continue to raise our standard of living so that our children are better off than we were? These are questions he will have to face before he gets into the Oval Office,” he said.
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