The wisdom that comes with age has been proven once again. US President Joe Biden demonstrated this by withdrawing from the fight for the presidential election in November 2024 and by supporting Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for the presidency. Both of his decisions worked like magic.

Some American journalist friends recently told me in private conversations that there has been increasing pressure on President Biden from within the Democratic Party and that he may need to step down. They believe that the pressure might be too much for him to handle. However, Barack Obama hammered the last nail in the bid to win Biden’s candidacy.

It is noteworthy that Barack Obama still holds significant influence within the party and is considered the most popular leader. Despite leaving the presidency almost eight years ago, the first black president plays a vital role in the party’s decisions.

The reference to Obama’s skin colour is not meant to be racist but rather to highlight the existence of a different vision for America compared to the one represented by Trump’s ideals of white supremacism.

According to American journalist friends, the Democrats have realised that they have little chance in 2024 due to having an 81-year-old weak leader. This has led to the belief that Trump will likely run again.

The recent events, such as the Philadelphia shooting, have only intensified this belief. As a result, Kamala Harris has been nominated as the presidential candidate (read: a scapegoat), with a suitable running mate to accompany her on this journey.

Their focus is now on the 2028 elections, as Trump is not expected to be a candidate by then. The shock of the potential loss is being passed on to Kamala, who needs to prepare her running mate or another young leader for the 2028 elections.

Biden’s decision was well-received in this speech, but Kamala’s candidacy seemed like an unrealistic dream. I felt that someone had to take the blame, and Kamala was the natural choice.

And since the word scapegoat is associated with the Indian language, top leaders of the Democratic Party feel it is not inappropriate to label anyone with even a slight connection to India as one. It is how it has always been. And a few days ago, I watched history repeat itself. Biden himself endorsed Kamala. The story above clearly shows the extent to which politics can be brutal.

The truth is, if the story ended here, it would have been completely insipid. But Kamala did not let that happen. After Biden’s announcement, everyone witnessed a strange magic.

Kamala Harris, who had been overlooked for so long, breathed new life into the ailing party. The embattled Democrat invigorated the party. Team members became hopeful. Consider the situation: where would an experienced politician like Biden lead the party, and where would a black and immigrant woman politician lift the floundering party?

The ascension of Kamala Harris demonstrates the baseless nature of accusations against immigrants in America. Finding a challenger among the Democrats to oppose her is challenging.

However, this does not mean there are no other capable leaders in the party. Introducing a new contender against someone like Trump in a short time frame (3 months) is risky. Overall, Kamala appears to be the strongest candidate for the Democratic Party. If all goes well, she is almost certain to secure the democrat nomination at the party convention in August.

Two things are important in the American context. The first is President Biden’s enduring determination. Even at 81, he could not accept that his days in politics were over, even after losing to Trump in the first debate. Biden’s prolonged determination is a clear example of how power politics can make people headstrong.

The second is that Trump is facing unexpected challenges. He gained a lot of attention by using harsh language to attack an elderly politician. After surviving an assassination attempt at the age of 78, he became more popular.

However, President Biden’s sudden exit from the race has left him shocked. Trump’s entire campaign focused on Biden, and now he has to deal with a new opponent he had never anticipated. With no official Democratic candidates, Trump is unsure who to focus on. President Biden has left Trump in a tough spot as he decided to exit office.

Adding to this challenge is the recent shift in popularity, which has historically favoured Trump. Surprisingly, recent polls by Reuters and CNN show that Kamala Harris has a two-point lead over Trump in popularity. This outcome was unexpected, as many would have anticipated Trump to hold a much larger lead, likely around 20 points.

After completing her law studies, Kamala began her career as a lawyer. Her journey since then has been extraordinary. She served as the District Attorney of San Francisco in 2003, became the Attorney General of California in 2010, and was elected as a Senator in 2016. In 2020, she made history by becoming the vice president.

Born to an immigrant father from Jamaica and an immigrant mother from India, Kamala carries an Indian and African-American identity. She has been a prominent advocate against regressive policies on issues like abortion and immigration, earning admiration for her openness and sincerity, particularly among young people.

Even now, it is uncertain whether Kamala Harris will secure the nomination from her party and whether she will win. However, the beauty of electoral Democracy is evident here. Democracy enthusiasts worldwide experienced this beauty through the rise of strong opposition in India, the setbacks of right-wing politics in the UK and France, Biden’s stepping down, and Trump’s turmoil in the USA. The lesson from all these events is simple: people do not make too many mistakes in a democratic system. And even if they do, they are capable of correcting it. So, it is best to trust them.

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The writer is Executive Editor of Digital Media, Independent Television