Salman Rushdie backs Kamala Harris for US presidency

New York: Renowned author Salman Rushdie has thrown his support behind Kamala Harris's bid for the US presidency, expressing confidence that she can prevent former President Donald Trump from steering the country towards authoritarianism.

Speaking at a virtual ‘South Asian Men for Harris' event, Rushdie endorsed Vice President Harris alongside a gathering of influential figures from the Indian-American community, including lawmakers, authors, and entrepreneurs.

“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 like the fact that a Black and Indian woman is running for the White House,” Rushdie said.

Harris, 59, is expected to become the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, succeeding Joe Biden, who withdrew from the race in July. Her candidacy symbolises a significant milestone, particularly as she aims to become the first woman of Black and Indian heritage to hold the office.

The 77-year-old British-American novelist also noted that ethnicity itself is not enough. “We would not be gathering in this way let's say for Usha Vance or Nikki Haley,” he said, referring to the Indian-American wife of Republican Vice Presidential nominee J D Vance and the Indian-American former South Carolina governor.

Rushdie emphasised that the momentum is because 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 said.

Rushdie underscored that the community has to make that work because “we can't allow the alternative to happen".

"This hollow man without a single noble quality, trying to drag this country towards authoritarianism. That cannot happen," he said, referring to 78-year-old Trump, a Republican.

Rushdie voiced his confidence that Harris “is the person who can prevent it. And so I'm right in 1,000 per cent in for her.”

Reflecting on American politics, Rushdie highlighted the influence of celebrity status, noting Trump's previous success due in part to his television persona. “Well, right now, he doesn't look like the star. He looks like the old, fat guy. Kamala looks like the superstar. And I think the charisma she brings to the campaign could be critical in the weeks ahead,” he said.

Addressing scepticism about Harris's electability based on her ethnicity, Rushdie remarked on the evolving societal attitudes that now favour diversity and inclusion. In response to a question that there are sceptics in the country who believe that America would not elect a woman with Black and Indian heritage as President, Rushdie said this may well have been an argument even as recently as maybe a decade but the times have changed.

“I think the way in which women's leadership is viewed now is different. The way in which the race issue can be made a positive is a new thing. And so I think there's absolutely no reason why Kamala Harris should not win and actually win it quite handily,” Rushdie said.

Underlining that the tide is turning, Rushdie cited recent media polls that put Harris neck and neck with Trump, “which is a pretty big bounce from the last Biden poll".

"And it's not even a week. We can do this. We just have to believe it.”

Rushdie called on people across the country, including the writer community, to "use every power we have, whether it's speaking out, writing, arguing, we've got to win this argument. And writers are pretty good at arguing. So I think we're going to do our best."

Noting that the November 5 presidential election is just 100 days away, Rushdie said: “There's not a minute to lose,” as he urged “aunties” and extended families to mobilise and come out and vote in large numbers for Harris.

Describing the support from diverse communities like South Asians and Indo-Caribbeans as deeply impactful, Rushdie emphasised the unity and mobilisation behind Harris's candidacy.

“It's moving in the way that in recent days these great assemblies of people have been moving. The gathering of Black women, the gathering of White women, the gathering of Asian women, and now this event. It just shows that there is enormous power in our coming together,” he said.

Rushdie underscored that “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 that doesn't mean we can't be the first pass the post. I believe we can”.

The event called on all South Asian men and women to rally, fundraise and get out to vote for “our first female president, Kamala Harris!”

The event, co-hosted by Sree Sreenivasan of Digimentors, featured prominent figures such as Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and advocates from South Asians for Harris, underscoring broad-based support for Harris's campaign.

Agencies