Washington: Joe Biden has picked Indian-origin Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, recognising the crucial role Black voters and Indian-Americans could play in his bid to defeat Donald Trump in the US presidential election in November.
By naming the 55-year-old lawyer and moderate Democratic politician from California as his vice presidential candidate, Biden made history by selecting the first Black woman to compete on a major party’s presidential ticket.
Harris, whose father is from Jamaica and mother an Indian, is currently the Senator from California and has been described as a trailblazer by Barack Obama, the first Black-American president.
Biden, 77, made the announcement in a text message to his supporters on Tuesday, ending days of suspense. It came about a week ahead of his virtual Democratic National Convention that would formally nominate Biden as the party’s candidate for the November 3 presidential election, challenging incumbent President Trump, a Republican.
“Joe Biden here. I’ve chosen Kamala Harris as my running mate. Together, with you, we’re going to beat Trump. Add your name to welcome her to the team, Biden said in his message.
Biden said Harris will be the best partner for him to finally get the country back on track. He described her as “a fearless fighter” and “one of the country’s finest public servants”.
Harris later tweeted that Biden “can unify the American people because he’s spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he’ll build an America that lives up to our ideals.””I’m honoured to join him as our party’s nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief.”
Leading Indian-American groups across the US have lauded the selection of Harris, saying it was a moment of pride and celebration for the entire community in America.
The Trump campaign said the choice of running mate was proof that Biden is “an empty shell being filled with the extreme agenda of the radicals on the left”. If elected, she would be the first ever women to be the vice president of the US and the first ever Indian-American and African-American vice president. (PTI)
