United in the states

Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds

- LAVINA MELWANI

Just as most watchers of American politics started thinking there cannot be any more twists this election season came reports about a second assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. The Republican candidate was at a golf course in Florida on September 15 when a lone gunman was seen about 500 metres from him. The would-be shooter fled after the Secret Service opened fire, but was soon arrested.

Trump later said he was being targeted repeatedly because of "rhetoric" against him by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate. The incident, five days after the Harris-Trump debate in Philadelphia, could give a lift to Trump, whose debate performance was uninspiring.

It was clear to the 65 million people who tuned in that Trump was unprepared, while Harris had facts at her fingertips. He glowered, and was always belittling his opponent. At times, Harris was in full prosecutor mode, and at other times, when Trump's pronouncements were over the top, she looked bemused, as if her rvial were a child.

Most media handed the winner's title to Harris, though with a challenging neck-and-neck race in many swing states and Trump's Teflon personality, anything is possible in the elections.

Among the Indian-American community, Harris holds sway with the majority. This is especially true with younger voters and is the result of a well-planned canvassing process, from phone banks to social media to word of mouth. At the heart of it all is the matter of representation and the wave of recognition which sweeps over many Indian-Americans when they look at Harris-she is one of them.