VP Kamala Harris Is Leading Already

She makes it look easy

Monday morning I watched as Vice President Kamala Harris spoke for the first time since President Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed her. Notably, she was surrounded by NCAA champions, young people who had persevered to reach the height of their sport and who were invited to be honored at the White House. The event just happened to coincide with the heavy moment of the President’s announcement not to run.

For me, the timing hit just right.

With anticipation hanging in the air, my husband and I watched as VP Harris entered the event and walked toward the podium. When it was her turn to speak, I think reporters were anticipating a remark about her run for the presidency. Instead, she took a brief moment to express her deep appreciation for President Biden, and then moved on.

Harris quickly pivoted to the athletes, calling out their achievements, congratulating them for their accomplishments, and praising their dedication. As she concluded, she said, “Wherever you go from here, you will always be champions, and know this: we will always be so proud of you.”

It seemed like most athletes, especially the women, beamed and stood a little taller. At the same moment, goosebumps popped up on my arm.

It was a simple line, but Kamala’s delivery was everything. She was present and uplifting and authentic. To me, as a former collegiate athlete, it was reminiscent of a beloved coach giving me the encouragement that I still hold on to like a treasure. 

The fact was not lost on me that Kamala Harris was saying these words as the new all-but-certain Democratic nominee for President in front of a crowd of proud, strong, young women. The prospect of her being the first female president, and the leader our kids look up to, is so exciting. Harris’s gender and race are by no means her qualifying factors for the nomination, but, gosh, doesn’t it mean a lot that they aren’t disqualifying anymore?

We have spent nearly four years recovering from a Trump Administration full of misogynistic egomaniacs. Their events for athletes were full of cheap photo ops with Donald stealing the attention, using the champions more to shine a light on himself than to instill a sense of pride in Americans. I cringed seeing him with powerful female athletes, hoping he wouldn’t try to knock them down a peg or hit on them. He served his athlete-guests fast food, refused to receive their messages of protest, and generally trivialized their visits. Which is kind of emblematic of how he treated the rest of us too.

Monday, as Harris stepped into this new role, she instantly elevated my feelings about the country and our hope for the future. She offered Americans some much needed reassurance and calm among the recent panic. Kamala lifted up President Biden, showing respect to him and salving the wounds of all of his supporters. And then at just as meaningful of a level, she demonstrated how much she loves this country by focusing on and honoring its citizens who were physically present with her. It wasn’t all about Harris, even though it could have easily been. She didn’t let that happen.

With this one small gesture, Harris masterfully stepped into her role as the presumptive Democratic nominee for President Monday morning. She followed it up with a couple of roaring campaign stops that were healing in all kinds of different ways, showcasing serious leadership skills that will undoubtedly be studied in textbooks for years to come. For me, last week’s overwhelming worry about the election has, in the last few days, been replaced with a flurry of hopeful excitement and inspiration. 

VP Harris is already a leader and a powerful role model.  In the face of chaos, with the highest stakes, Kamala is pulling us towards safety in this election. I trust her words: Wherever we go from here, we will be champions. 

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Vote,

Dr. Stephanie Lovely