This Tuesday afternoon came the most anticipated political announcement in recent weeks: Kamala Harris is the running mate of Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden.
Among the party's Democrats, unsurprisingly, the reactions were supportive of Harris and Biden's criteria in choosing who a few months ago was his rival in the primary elections, when both were competing for the Democratic nomination.
Former Democratic President Barack Obama spoke on Twitter: "I have known Senator Kamala Harris for a long time. She is more than ready for the job. She has spent her career defending our Constitution and fighting for people who need fair treatment. This is it. a good day for our country. Now we are going to win this election. "
Federico de Jesús , Democratic strategist and Hispanic export spokesperson for the 2008 Obama-Biden campaign, told Noticias Telemundo that “Harris meets the criteria for the position: to be ready from day one to assume the presidency if something happens with the commander in boss ; she teams up with Biden, shares her values, and will help her generate excitement in many communities. "
“He chose her for her qualifications, and the confrontations they had in the primary debates are in the past. That Biden has chosen her speaks well of his character and that he is willing to reconcile with an ex-rival ... she will help him to unite the party and the nation in a historic moment like the one we are experiencing. "
Vanessa Cárdenas, former director of National Coalitions for Biden's campaign, told Noticias Telemundo that Harris "is a great option" as it will "energize the Democratic base and mobilize progressives . Kamala has built a strong relationship with the Latino community and has been an advocate on key issues in Congress, like immigration. "
Among Republicans, the reactions are not surprising either: she was mercilessly attacked for being supposedly "radical left", although she is a moderate center voice in the Senate (especially compared to progressive senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren).
Vice President Mike Pence will have before him "a magnificent and prepared candidate who will be able to stand up to him and will hold him accountable," added Cárdenas. "Trump better brace himself because Harris knows how to hit good."
This Feb. 16, 2012 file photo shows former President Barack Obama (right) with Kamala Harris, then California Attorney General, in San Francisco.Hearst Newspapers via Getty Imag
But GOP Chair Ronna McDaniel said Harris would be a disaster as vice president: “Fortunately, we already have a VP who believes in secure borders, low taxes, respect for the police, and American energy independence: @ Mike Pence ”.
President Donald Trump, for his part, reacted to Biden's election with insults and pejorative comments against the senator.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and a close ally of the president, called Harris a "formidable opponent." "He is smart, aggressive and has fully committed to the very liberal agenda of the Democratic Party," Graham tweeted.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in Detroit, Michigan on July 31, 2019.REUTERS / REUTERS
Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for Women and Politics, told Noticias Telemundo that “the historic selection that Biden has made with Kamala Harris is another indication that the future of politics will not be the same as always” when it comes to the role played by women in public life.
Harris's selection also marks another milestone in the advancement of women in politics: In 1984, then-Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro was a running mate with Walter Mondale, and in 2008, Sarah Palin was with Senator John McCain, Walsh pointed out.
