WASHINGTON, Aug 12 - In a major breakthrough for Indian-Americans in US politics, Joe Biden has picked Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate to woo the Black voters and the influential Indian diaspora who could play a key role in his bid to defeat Donald Trump in the presidential election.
By naming the 55-year-old lawyer and moderate Democratic politician from California as his vice presidential candidate in the November 3 election, 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.
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 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.�
In 2016, some 77 per cent of Indian-Americans voted for the Democratic Party�s presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, according to figures released by CRW Strategy, a research firm.
Reacting to the nomination of Harris, President Trump said he was �a little surprised that he picked her�. Harris �was very disrespectful to Joe Biden and it�s hard to pick somebody that�s that disrespectful,� he said. � PTI
