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Houston, Texas – Democratic presidential candidate 2020, Senator Kamala Harris, tried this weekend to make waves in Texas, a state with a stereotype to be concerned about the size.
Harris' two days in the Lone Star State, whose Democratic primary will take place next March, will be a conversation and private fundraiser in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The California Democrat's itinerary then included a breakfast with black women in Houston, before ending with a gathering of 2,400 people at Texas Southern University, where she unveiled the first major political announcement of her campaign: a commitment to bridge the salary gap between teachers its hypothetical administration using federal resources.
"We are here to fight," Harris said during the rally, citing economic fundamentals, immigration, criminal justice, climate change control and gun control of his platform.
But the Texas presence of the senator and the former California Attorney General, who had launched his candidacy for the White House in January, quickly allowed comparisons to be made with another presidential candidate. former representative Beto O. Rourke, the last representative of the state. favorite son.
Michelle Schwartz, 50, took a three-hour drive to Saturday's rally to hear Harris speak and talk to staff about how she could volunteer. Schwartz, a writer, worked last year for the unsuccessful campaign of O. Rourke in the Senate. Yet, less than five months later, Schwartz said she was "thoroughly" for Harris, daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants.
"It's the spark, the gravitas, the factor" x ", but I've also done my research to determine where it's located on different political spectrums," he said. she said. "I really think it was good for her to go to a historic black university because it's a segment of the population that Beto has not managed to reach and form a coalition."
Cameron Whitaker, 26, said at the Washington Examiner that he votes regularly; However, the only political rally he had attended before Saturday was for former President Barack Obama in 2012.
"I like her directivity, she looks authentic, but I feel like she's also offering details," said the Houston-based communications specialist. Harris versus O'Rourke. "He is great and passionate, but lacks specificity."
Whitaker said Harris' argument to Saturday teachers echoed him personally since his mother is an educator.
Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at Southern Methodist University, said Harris's visit to Texas indicated that she was preparing to "run everywhere" as part of a national effort not only focusing on the states in question. early voting.
"She was here to introduce herself to women, especially women of color, who form a large part of the Democratic electorate. It's also a sign for Beto and, to a lesser extent, for Julian Castro, that she's here to compete, "Jillson said of the former mayor of San Antonio, who is also challenging the presidency.
Even if Harris does not take Texas, ranking third would still be considered a win, as it would give him momentum and give him a share of the state's 200 delegates, Jillson said.
Similarly, Mark Jones, a political scientist at Rice University, told the Washington Examiner Harris already had a strong base of support among Black women, who are one of the most trusted Democratic voting blocs, as well as in a growing Indo-American community.
"She also challenged Beto to go to California," Jones said. "It's up to him to show well because he can not afford to win a close win in Texas and finish fifth for her in his home country."
Nevertheless, Matt Angle, founder and director of the Liberal Political Action Committee Lone Star Project, said the Oaklander's decision to move to Texas had nothing to do with the local El Paso star.
"I see it as a smart policy, Texas is a very large and diverse state, there will be a lot of delegates involved in the primary," Angle wrote in an email. "In fact, any serious democrat seeking to be named will ignore Texas at his peril."
Harris then has to cross the country for a series of stops Sunday in Atlanta, Georgia.
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