Indian-born author Salman Rushdie publicly endorsed US Vice President Kamala Harris for her White House bid during a virtual event hosted by 'South Asian Men for Harris' on Friday.
Rushdie, expressing his belief, stated that Harris is crucial in preventing former president Donald Trump from steering the country towards authoritarianism.
“It’s a critical moment. I’m a boy from Bombay, and it’s great to see an Indian woman running for the White House. And my wife is African-American, so we appreciate that a Black and Indian woman is in the race,” Rushdie said during the event.
The British-American author mentioned that ethnicity should not be the only criterion for casting a vote in this presidential election. “We would not be gathering in this way let’s say for Usha Vance or Nikki Haley,” he said, referring to Usha Vance, the Indian-American wife of Republican Vice Presidential nominee J D Vance and the Indian-American former South Carolina governor.
Rushdie, referring to Biden’s decision to drop out of the Presidential bid and endorse Harris, said, “something very extraordinary, transformative has happened in American politics” in just under one week.
“The conversation has entirely changed with the arrival of Kamala Harris’s candidacy and it’s changed most joyfully, a way of optimism and positive, forward-thinking,” he added.
Referring to the Republican presidential nominee and former US president. Donald Trump, Rushdie said, “This hollow man without a single noble quality, trying to drag this country towards authoritarianism. That cannot happen.”
The Perception Of Women’s Leadership Has Shifted
Rushdie expressed his strong belief that Harris "is the one who can prevent it. So I'm fully committed to her". He also noted that in America, star power plays a significant role, suggesting that Trump’s long-standing TV presence contributed to his 2016 presidential win.
Responding to concerns about the electability of a woman with Black and Indian heritage, Rushdie expressed optimism that times have evolved. "The perception of women’s leadership has shifted," he stated. He cited recent polls indicating that Harris is closely competing with Trump as proof of this positive change.
Rushdie concluded his speech saying, “We cannot be complacent. We have to fight this down to the wire because it’s probably going to go down to the wire. But I believe we can be the first past the post.”
The event was attended by numerous notable figures from the Indian-American community, including influential lawmakers, authors, policy experts, entrepreneurs, and representatives from diaspora organisations.
Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee after President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race on July 20, is expected to be officially confirmed as the candidate by the Democratic Party next month.