Trump Or Harris: Who's Better For India? Experts On India Today Debate

Summary

In a critical discussion on U.S. politics, the panel examines Kamala Harris's rise as the Democratic presidential candidate following Joe Biden's unexpected withdrawal. Analysts express concerns about her campaign's momentum and potential challenges, including the need for strong endorsements from prominent figures like Barack Obama. They discuss the implications of Harris's policies, particularly regarding immigration and international relations, as well as the strategic importance of campaign funding. The conversation also touches on the contrasting foreign policy approaches of the Democratic and Republican parties, speculating on the future of U.S.-India relations depending on the election outcome.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kamala Harris is positioned as the likely Democratic nominee after Joe Biden's unexpected withdrawal from the race.
• 🤔 The Democratic Party is under pressure to unite quickly due to time constraints, with the convention approaching.
• 💰 Kamala Harris's access to Biden's campaign funds gives her a significant advantage in the race.
• 📅 Harris is expected to immediately join the campaign trail, making it difficult for any other candidates to enter the race.
• 🔄 The Democratic establishment's primary goal is to prevent Donald Trump from returning to the White House.
• 🇺🇸 Analysts believe Harris will largely continue Biden's policies, particularly on Ukraine and abortion rights.
• 🏛️ Concerns are raised about Harris's handling of immigration issues, especially given rising illegal immigration rates.
• 🌏 India's relationship with the U.S. is seen as unlikely to change significantly, regardless of Harris's presidency.
• 🗣️ There are worries about potential Democratic interference in India's internal affairs, particularly regarding human rights.
• 📉 Current polling shows Trump leading Harris, indicating a challenging campaign ahead for the Democrats.

Q & A

What event led to Kamala Harris becoming a significant candidate in the presidential race?

Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race and his endorsement of Kamala Harris positioned her as a prominent candidate for the Democratic nomination.

Are there any major Democratic leaders who have not endorsed Kamala Harris yet?

Yes, key figures such as Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi have yet to officially endorse Kamala Harris, indicating some hesitation within the party.

What challenges does Kamala Harris face as she enters the presidential race?

Harris faces time pressure, as the Democratic National Convention is approaching, and she must quickly establish herself as a viable candidate to unite the party.

How much campaign funding is Kamala Harris expected to utilize?

Harris has access to over $200 million in campaign funds from Biden's previous fundraising efforts, which significantly bolsters her financial position.

What are some key issues that Harris is expected to maintain from Biden's administration?

Harris is likely to continue Biden's policies on Ukraine and abortion, reflecting the Democratic establishment's focus on these issues.

What concerns have been raised regarding Harris's handling of immigration issues?

There are worries about her effectiveness in addressing the high levels of illegal immigration at the U.S. southern border, which has been a significant topic of discussion.

How do analysts view Harris's potential influence on U.S.-India relations?

While some analysts express concerns about Harris's past comments and lack of recent engagement with India, there is a consensus that U.S.-India relations will continue to grow due to India's geopolitical significance.

What was highlighted about the Democratic Party's relationship with India's internal affairs?

The panelists noted that the Democratic Party has been perceived as interfering in India's internal affairs, particularly regarding human rights and relations with Pakistan.

What polling trends were discussed concerning Kamala Harris and Donald Trump?

Current polling indicates that Kamala Harris ranks lower than Donald Trump, highlighting challenges she faces in terms of public support.

What could be a potential strategy for Harris regarding her choice of a running mate?

Harris may need to select a strong vice presidential candidate to balance her campaign, particularly given concerns about her public speaking abilities and overall popularity.

Outlines

00:00

🗳️ Kamala Harris's Candidacy After Biden's Withdrawal

This part discusses the significant political shift following Joe Biden's unexpected withdrawal from the presidential race, where he endorsed Kamala Harris as his successor. Lena White highlights the turbulent circumstances surrounding Biden's exit, noting that Democrats are under time pressure as the election approaches. While many within the party have rallied behind Harris, key Democratic leaders like Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi have yet to endorse her, leading to uncertainty. The conversation also touches on Harris's campaign strategy, her access to substantial campaign funds, and the challenges she faces in appealing to the broader Democratic base. The likelihood of a Harris-Trump showdown in the presidential race is emphasized, alongside concerns regarding her stance on key policies.

05:01

🌍 Kamala Harris's Policy Stance and Immigration Issues

This section explores Kamala Harris's expected policy alignment with Joe Biden's administration, particularly on issues such as Ukraine and abortion. Lena White suggests that Harris will likely maintain Biden's approach, including continued support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict. However, concerns about her effectiveness as the Border Czar arise, especially given the increasing number of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. The discussion also highlights her lack of engagement with India over the past few years and the implications of her perceived distance from key diplomatic relationships. Ambassador Vina SRI and Professor Brahma Chelani provide insights into how Harris's policies might affect U.S.-India relations and whether she will interfere in India's internal affairs.

10:04

🤝 U.S.-India Relations Under Democratic Leadership

This part focuses on the potential implications of Kamala Harris's presidency for U.S.-India relations. Professor Chelani expresses skepticism regarding the Democrats' historical tendency to involve themselves in India's internal affairs, contrasting it with the more pragmatic approach of Republican administrations. He notes the growing importance of India on the global stage and suggests that any U.S. administration will seek to strengthen ties with New Delhi. Despite concerns over human rights rhetoric, the overall trajectory of U.S.-India strategic cooperation is expected to remain positive. The section concludes with reflections on how Trump's presidency led to stronger ties with India and the uncertainties surrounding Harris's ability to maintain or enhance this relationship.

15:04

💰 Campaign Dynamics and Public Sentiment

In this final part, the discussion shifts to the public's response to Kamala Harris's ascension as the Democratic candidate. Lena White notes the dramatic shift in the political landscape following Biden's withdrawal, with speculations about Harris's vice-presidential pick and her need for a strong partner to balance her candidacy. Concerns are raised about her polling numbers, with Harris trailing Trump, indicating challenges ahead. The fundraising dynamics are highlighted, with Democrats raising $50 million in small donations after Biden's announcement, showcasing grassroots support. The conversation ends on a note of uncertainty regarding Harris's ability to secure public trust and support in the coming months, especially amidst ongoing domestic and international challenges.

Keywords

💡Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is the Vice President of the United States and is presented as the likely Democratic candidate for the presidential election following Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race. Her candidacy is pivotal as it represents continuity of the Democratic Party's policies and a response to the pressures within the party. The script discusses her political strengths and weaknesses, indicating that while she has substantial financial backing, her public speaking abilities and overall popularity are questioned.

💡Joe Biden

Joe Biden is the current President of the United States, whose unexpected withdrawal from the presidential race creates a significant shift in the political landscape. His decision is seen as an acknowledgment of his waning support within the Democratic Party and opens the door for Kamala Harris to step forward. The script reflects on the implications of his exit for the Democratic campaign and the urgency to unify behind a strong candidate.

💡Democratic Party

The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the U.S., and its internal dynamics are a central theme in the discussion. The script highlights the party's challenges in rallying support for Kamala Harris amid influential figures like Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi who have not yet endorsed her. The conversation points to the historical context of party unity and the urgency needed as the election approaches.

💡Campaign Funding

Campaign funding refers to the financial resources available to political candidates for their election campaigns. In the transcript, it is noted that Kamala Harris has access to a significant amount of money from Biden's previous campaign, which provides her a substantial advantage over potential challengers. This funding is crucial for her campaign strategy, allowing her to amplify her message and reach voters effectively.

💡U.S.-India Relations

U.S.-India relations encompass the diplomatic, economic, and strategic interactions between the two countries. The discussion in the transcript reflects on the potential impact of Kamala Harris's presidency on this relationship, emphasizing that despite past criticisms from the Democrats regarding human rights in India, the strategic partnership is likely to continue growing. The importance of this relationship is underscored by India’s rising global profile and economic power.

💡Immigration Policy

Immigration policy refers to the laws and regulations governing how individuals can enter, reside in, and remain in a country. The transcript mentions the challenges Kamala Harris faces as the 'Border Zar' in light of rising illegal immigration rates during the Biden administration. The effectiveness of her policies in addressing this issue is questioned, indicating the complexity of immigration as a campaign issue.

💡Endorsements

Endorsements are public declarations of support for a political candidate, often from influential figures or organizations. In the discussion, the lack of endorsements from key Democratic leaders like Barack Obama is noted, which could impact Kamala Harris's perceived legitimacy and momentum. This aspect of political strategy highlights the significance of endorsements in rallying party support.

💡Public Speaking

Public speaking is the act of delivering a speech to a live audience and is a vital skill for political candidates. The script mentions Kamala Harris's struggles with public speaking, referring to her speeches as 'salad speeches' or 'unburdened.' This raises concerns about her effectiveness in connecting with voters and persuading the public, which is crucial in a high-stakes election.

💡Election Strategy

Election strategy involves the planning and tactics used by political campaigns to win elections. The transcript highlights the importance of a strong vice-presidential pick for Kamala Harris, indicating that her campaign will need to carefully consider how to balance her profile and address her perceived weaknesses. This element is essential for engaging voters and ensuring campaign success.

💡Bipartisan Support

Bipartisan support refers to the agreement and cooperation between two major political parties. The conversation suggests that despite partisan differences, there is strong bipartisan interest in maintaining robust U.S.-India relations. This reflects the strategic importance of India to the U.S. and indicates that future administrations, regardless of party affiliation, are likely to prioritize this relationship.

Highlights

Lena White discusses the impact of Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race and Kamala Harris's potential as the Democratic nominee.

The panel acknowledges the challenging political landscape for the Democrats, recalling a similar situation in 1968.

Ambassador Vina Sri notes the time pressure on the Democratic Party to unify behind Harris as the candidate.

Professor Brahma Chelani emphasizes the strategic importance of money in Harris's campaign, highlighting her access to Biden's fundraising.

Harris's strong position is attributed to the substantial funds available from Biden's campaign, amounting to over $240 million.

The discussion includes potential endorsements from key Democratic leaders like Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi.

Lena White raises concerns about Harris's public speaking abilities and overall popularity as she begins her campaign.

Harris's record as Border Czar is debated, with concerns over her ability to address the issue of illegal immigration effectively.

Professor Chelani discusses how U.S.-India relations may evolve under a Harris administration, given her comments on internal affairs.

The panel expresses skepticism about Harris's ability to significantly diverge from Biden's policies, especially regarding Ukraine.

Concerns are raised about the Democrats' historical approach to human rights issues in India and their potential interference.

Ambassador Sri mentions that the relationship between the U.S. and India is unlikely to change drastically, regardless of party affiliation.

The role of financial contributions from grassroots movements and prominent donors in Harris's campaign is highlighted.

The discussion shifts to the implications of Biden remaining president for six months while being deemed unfit for the campaign.

The panel acknowledges the deep political divides in the U.S. and the challenges Harris may face in unifying the party.

Lena White comments on the need for Harris to select a strong vice-presidential candidate to bolster her campaign.

Transcripts

joining me from the United States is

Lena white she's a senior journalist

who's tracking these developments

Ambassador Vina SRI is a former top

Diplomat and Professor Brahma chelani is

a well-respected strategic Affairs

analyst and a former adviser to India's

National Security Council Lena white let

me Begin by asking you after Joe Biden

dropped out of the race and endorsed

kamla Harris is it smooth sailing for

her all the way in this presidential

race or is she facing headwinds Within

the Democratic setup to are the Obama's

endorsing her or just not as

yet it's a great question as you noticed

until now nothing was a smooth

sailing yesterday in the morning the

campaign chair of Biden said that Biden

is continuing his campaign and few hours

later Biden with Drew all of a sudden

it's really been Rocky for the Democrats

but to your question

they don't have time last time this W

happened was in

1968 and the candidate withdrew in March

now is July they are really short of

time and Kamala Harris is in a way the

only best fast options they have so most

of the Democrats have already supported

Kamala Harris they are still waiting on

Democratic leaders such as Obama ncy

Pelosi uh jeffre schum who are sort of a

little bit more distance from that okay

maybe if somebody better would come in

but to your question I think they will

have to go with it rather smoothly just

because of the time pressure okay so

perhaps at Chicago there'll be Clarity

on this Ambassador secre does it appear

to be Donald Trump versus kamla Harris

at least as of now or could there still

be a dark horse in the race to the White

House well I as I just mentioned I think

quite clearly that there is no time at

all and more than that kamla Harris is

already joining the election campaign

she's already going to be canvasing as

of tomorrow because president uh Joe

Biden will no longer be joining the

various Democratic campaign events that

have been scheduled so once she's going

to already join the campaign schedule

it's going to be very difficult in the

month of August a month from now the

Democratic Convention is just more than

a month from now uh then at that time to

then change and have another candidate

is far far too late it is true that Bill

and Hillary Clinton have endorsed her

but uh president President Barack Obama

and his wife Michelle have not endorsed

her Nancy Pelosi is not endorsed her yet

but maybe this is a question just of

days because once she's on the campaign

Trail is going to be very difficult to

get her uh get somebody else to be Indo

so more or less we can take it that uh

vice president kamla Harris is going to

be the Democratic candidate for the

elections especially when uh in in the

Democratic Camp Professor chelani the

conversation is bring you know get your

wagons together because the main aim is

to ensure that Donald Trump doesn't

reach the White House once again how do

you see these developments will it be

kamla Harris taking on Donald Trump in

the race to the White House

sir well God of the reason why Biden was

forced out of the presidential race is

because in the perception of the

democratic party establishment that

become too weak to defeat Donald Trump

the

overriding goal of the establishment the

Deep state in the US is to prevent Trump

from returning to the White House but

your question as to why kamla Harris is

the likely opponent of trump it's all

about money yes piden is sitting on more

than 200 million dollar in cash lawfully

only kamla Harris can use utilize those

funds because it was a Biden Trump sorry

a Biden Harris Harris ticket yes uh that

Drew that money those donations so

lawfully only she can use

those funds and that's the reason why

she's in a strong strong position to be

the nominee the Democratic party is

cacing behind kamla Harris it'll be very

difficult for anyone else to challenge

her and ser certainly because of the

fact that she's sitting on so much cash

she has incredible momentum even though

she just started her

campaign okay absolutely interesting you

say that that $240 million War chess

tips the scale in her favor Lena white

there are analysts who argue that she

will continue Joe Biden's policies some

seem to believe that she'll just follow

through with all his policies is that

also the reading um uh in in the United

States of America whether it's with

Israel or Ukraine or you know in India's

context Vis

India yes I think Kamala Harris will not

go far away from uh Biden's ideas

definitely not on Ukraine it's the whole

idea of the democratic establishment to

keep pumping uh weapons and money and

supplies anything to Ukraine just to

keep the war going so I don't think it

will it will divert from that if

anything she could be stronger on

abortion as everyone is saying she is a

woman it has been her topic since the

beginning she's there I don't think even

though she's now the Border Zar I don't

think she can be any better on that

because as we all know here we have 10

million illegal immigrants ever since

they got into the office so I don't

think she can much push further on that

but if anything then then on abortion

okay so you know that may be one issue

but Ambassador secri Lena white mentions

she's the Border Zar does that work in

her favor or or given that mass illegal

immigration that's taking place in the

United States of America that actually

goes on to work against

her yes I I think some of the issues I

think on policy as such she will

definitely follow the policies of the

democratic government under President

Joe Biden and certainly as far as we in

IND concerned we've seen uh their

interest on internal affairs in India

whether it is the ca or the NRC and you

know the whole question of what happened

during India's recent elections there's

been a big report from the disin for lab

about interference in India's elections

and we know that so that is all these

are questions of worry we also know that

um uh vice president kamla Harris has

spoken about her Indian Heritage U but

she has not visited India in the last

three and a half years she not visited

India there not been much direct contact

with her so these are all issues that

certainly uh you know the the people in

India will be looking at uh but on

immigration we've seen that President um

Trump has promised a much Sterner policy

and the the it is known that the people

of the USA are uh really worried and

concerned about the huge amount of

numbers that are pouring into uh America

from the borders from the southern

borders and this is going to be an issue

that that will have to be tackled by

will have to be spoken about by vice

president kamla Harris as does her

campaign okay uh Professor chelani on on

issues like 317 Jammu and Kashmir or the

citizenship Amendment act the Democrats

were seen as some as people who were

interfering in India's Internal Affairs

kamla Harris was quoted as saying

kashmiris should know they are not alone

or words to that effect so in the White

House do you see her as in case she

makes it to the White House more

interfering in India's Internal

Affairs the Democrats are you know they

carry all sorts of baggage including

human rights baggage that they use uh

against um even partners and allies the

Republicans are uh much more pragmatic

in that sense but the fact is that the

general

trajectory toward a indu US strategic

cooperation is unlikely to be altered in

the post Biden era booming American

exports to India reinforce the

bipartisan support in Washington for

stronger and closer ties with India uh

which Administration can ignore India

you know India's International profile

and geopolitical weight are growing it's

the India is now the world's fifth

biggest economy after surpassing Britain

and by next year India is set to become

the third largest economy by overtaking

both Japan and Germany so there is no

way that any Administration in

Washington will seek to in any in any

way downgrade the relationship with New

Delhi in fact the relationship is going

to continue to grow but the fact is that

when Trump was in the White

House those were the hen days of the US

India relationship was not because of

the Houston Rally or the Ahmedabad rally

was because of fundamental shifts in

policy that Trump Administration

instituted he instituted fundamental

shifts in US policies towards India's

two Regional adversaries China and

Pakistan and he gave India Pride a place

in in his indopacific strategy including

commit committing the us to help qu

Court accelerate India's rise that's why

that is why us indiaan relations thrived

during the Trump presidency okay Biden

came to office criticizing India on

various issues during his campaign and

even though in office he sought to

continue his predecessors efforts to

strengthen relations with India yet we

have seen in recent months how his

secretary of state has sought to

interfere in India's Internal Affairs

and use the human rights card as a a

sort of an instrument to be India with

yes so that is that likely to continue

uh uh you know ambass SEC your

appreciation should should uh you know

kamla harrish make it to the White House

because there are several issues that

you know the Democrats are in in many

ways seem to be uh pretty close even to

Pakistan whether uh the Biden

Administration gives them the f-16s uh

or gets them off the fatf or assist or

helps them or looks the other way when

they get off the fatf gra is despite

doing nothing Against Terror or that

Hardline on China which is not as hard

as as the Trump line on China how do you

read this uh in in the in the weeks and

months ahead yes I think certainly uh

president Trump's line on China has been

far more realistic far more pragmatic

far more in recognition of the h IC role

that China is trying to play in the

world and trying to push America into

accepting this G2 you know the the

American camp and the Chinese Camp

Barack Obama and the Democrats are

supporting the China on G2 in fact it

was Barack Obama's time that initiated

this whole idea so I think president

Trump is much more realistic on that we

have always had better relations with

Republican administrations uh and uh

rather than Democratic administrations

which they you know always overlooking

the looking over the shoulders into the

domestic affairs of India and trying to

think that they can you know legislate

or talk about or pass judgment on

everything happening in every corner of

the world so I think this has been a

great problem with us and we look

forward actually to uh you know the the

Republican the four years under

President Donald Trump which had led to

a great Improvement in the relationship

and let us see the next four years what

happens in that U at the moment the um

comparison in the polling ratings when

President Joe Biden was the candidate uh

were very much in president Trump's

favor no new ratings have come out right

now uh after this change has taken place

just today but uh perhaps they do not

expect a very big change in these

polling ratings uh after uh uh vice

president kamla Harris becomes the

candidate let us see a matter for the

people of America to decide and

certainly we all watching it with great

interest abely it's the world's oldest

democracy that that's watching elections

in the United States of America seen as

one of the largest democracies in the

world but Lena white uh what's it like

in the US after this announcement uh

that it's not Joe Biden it's kamla

Harris and who would be her running mate

uh lots of lots of speculation but is

that likely uh to to make some dramatic

change in favor of the

Democrats it it's been dramatic for

about one month as as you can remember

there was the Trump Biden debate it it

went downhill then the attempt

assassination against uh former

president trump it was a disaster and

now suddenly Biden of withdrawing this

was not really that unexpected people

thought that something will have to

happen just based on the pressure which

was officially put against Biden of

course no one expected he will do it uh

offline no one has seen single picture

of him ever since he uh put this major

statement only via X platform not even

address the nation you know Nationwide

so it has been very strange done very

strange way in terms of kamla Harris she

is ranking not the best uh as one of the

speakers already mentioned she's having

46% Trump is having 51 we will of course

see more and more PS pouring in uh as

the time goes

uh who knows if they are true that's

another thing okay but I think kamla

Harris will have to pick a very strong

uh Vice pres vice president to sort of

balance her out because she's not the

strongest candidate we all know that if

you look online her speeches are called

so-called salad speeches or unburdened

because she has very hard time talking

publicly and I don't know how they will

get around this within like a one month

of time interesting you mentioned that

but there's also this issue about

funding Professor chelani uh should

India be concerned and would India be

concerned the people who are funding

kamla Harris her her campaign and

especially elements like

Soros well that's an issue but um just

yesterday after Biden announced his

decision to drop out of the race the

Democrats collected $50 million all in

small

donations that is a record for a single

day yes they are flushed with

cash so it's not just SOS or the big

donors it's the fact that at from the

Grassroots they're collecting a lot of

money but there's a larger issue

here the issue is this

that Biden may have dropped out the race

but he still is the president for the

next six

months if Pon is not physically and

mentally fit to run for president

again how can be fit to remain as

president for six more months and that's

that debate is already raging in the

United States of America yeah like you

know if if he was he was forced

out because he was not physically and

mentally fit but then somebody who's not

fit should he stay as president for six

small months at a time when the US is

facing both a you know domestic

challenges of you know it's very

polarized um and it's a very divided

society and internationally it's a very

turbulent time and perhaps that's the

baptism by fire that kamla Harris will

go through but we'll be tracking that

story very very closely have

unfortunately run out of time on this

part of the show and does the consensus

appear to be that for India it's the

Republicans and Donald Trump who's who's

likely to be better to take this

relationship forward is that actually

the case we'll be tracking that will it

be abar Trump sarcar actually this time

after a gap of four years that is all I

have for you on this show to all my

guest many thanks for joining me