Expectations Rise Among Black and Asian Communities in the U.S. with Harris's Appearance

"Asian Americans Excited About Harris's Presidential Run"
"Caution Advised Against Assuming Automatic Votes"

Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President who has emerged as a leading Democratic presidential candidate, is drawing the attention of minority voters.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is widely expected to be the Democratic presidential candidate in the United States, is holding her first presidential campaign rally on the 23rd (local time) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the 23rd (local time), Pawan Dingra, a professor of American Studies at Amherst College, told the online media Axios in an interview, "Not only the Indian community but the entire Asian American population is excited about Vice President Harris's presidential bid." Suresh Kalyanaraman (55), a Democratic supporter who immigrated from India to the U.S. in 1990, said in an interview with NBC, "It feels similar to when Barack Obama won in 2008."

The Asian American population in the U.S. has more than doubled over the past 20 years. According to the Pew Research Center, about 62% of Asian American voters support the Democratic Party. Although their total number accounts for only about 7% of the U.S. population, election experts see them as a group that can determine election outcomes in battleground states.

The African American community, seeing the possibility of a second Black president following Obama, has also responded enthusiastically. The leadership of "Win With Black Women," a Black women's organization with over 44,000 members, declared support for Vice President Harris and raised $1.5 million (approximately 2.07 billion KRW) in donations within three hours. Bernice King, daughter of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., also officially declared her support for Harris.

This reaction contrasts with the lukewarm attitude shown by Black and Asian communities toward President Joe Biden, who announced his withdrawal from the Democratic presidential race on the 21st. A poll conducted on the 10th targeting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters showed Biden's approval rating at 46%, down 8 percentage points from the 2020 presidential election. It is diagnosed that some traditional Democratic supporters have defected due to dissatisfaction with Biden's policies on immigration, the economy, and other issues.

Harris's rise as a Black and Indian American has created the possibility that minority voters, who have shown indifference toward both Biden and Trump, may shift their votes to the Democratic Party. However, there are also warnings not to assume that voters will readily support her just because she shares their minority background.

Professor Dingra pointed out, "She needs to address issues that concern all Americans but do so in a way that connects with Asian Americans. It is also necessary to clarify her stance on specific foreign policies important to the Asian American community." Additionally, her relatively low profile while serving as Vice President has had a negative impact.