US presidential election: Electoral College has a surprise for Harris

By Uji A. ILIYASU 

Kamala Harris’s potential to win the US presidential election is  huge. But I fear for her and all women in the United States. I bet that she will draw more popular votes which the Electoral College will be glad to overturn.

The electoral college may deny her victory, just as they did  to John Kerry and Hillary Clinton.   Many Americans believe that Harris has a strong chance of winning the November poll.

The electoral college system which usually prefers less popular candidate at the expense of the popular ones has been criticised for being out-fashioned because they favour certain states over others. The system, unfortunately is the darling of the conservative Republicans. I fear for Harris. 

In fact, a majority of American voters (63% plus) would prefer to see the winner of the presidential election be the person who wins the most votes nationwide  rather than through the electoral college system. However, the system remains in place, and it’s possible that its venon will be released to

rock Harris boat.

Some US analysts and political scientists  believe that the electoral college system could work against Harris, particularly if the gap in the popular votes cast is close by few millions. 

In 2020, President Joe Biden won the popular vote by more than 7 million votes, but his Electoral College victory was decided by fewer than 50,000 votes in a few close states. This highlights the fear for the electoral college system to override the popular vote.

The inherent evil the Electoral College makes the Democrats to favour replacing the system with a popular vote system, while Republicans who  are usually the beneficiaries of the system are basking in its injustice.

This system could impact Harris’ potential to win, particularly if she performs well in states that are not traditionally considered battlegrounds.

In all,  the outcome of the election will depend on various factors such as the candidates’ policies, campaign strategies, and voter turnout. 

Kamala Harris’s foreign policies, especially on Israel and Palestinian question could significantly impact her presidential chances. A recent poll found that taking a decisive stance demanding an immediate ceasefire and unhindered aid to Palestinians could expand her lead over her Republican Trump. This is because many voters, particularly younger and colour voters, are sympathetic towards Palestinians and critical of Israel’s actions.

Harris’s compassionate stance on Palestinian suffering and her call for an immediate ceasefire have resonated with voters. However, it’s crucial to note that there’s a deep partisan divide on this issue, with Republicans generally more supportive of Israel and Democrats favouring Palestinians.

Ultimately, Harris’s policies on Israel and Palestine will likely influence her chances, particularly among younger, non-white, and progressive voters. By taking a strong, compassionate stance, she may be able to expand her lead and secure the presidency.

Again i fear for Harris.  I am still busy questioning myself whether America is ready for a woman president, even while some believe that it’s time for a change. The issue of a female American president appeals to societal attitudes and biases, making it a complex topic to talk. Some analysts believe that former First Lady and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton would have won if she were male. 

What is America waiting for?  Many younger democracies than America have had female heads of state. Despite the fact that  it’s not forbidden for a woman to hold the highest office in the US, I fear for Harris, like hidden bank charges in my country, Nigeria. I fear for Harris. 

Even though some analysts believe that Kamala Harris has a good chance of winning the election, despite the hidden charges of the electoral college I fear for her. For the college has a surprise for her. 

Al Gore lost the presidential election to George W. Bush in 2000, despite winning the popular vote. In that election, Bush won the electoral college vote by  271 to Al Gore’s 266, while AlGore received 500,000 more votes in the popular vote. The outcome largely hinged on the results in Florida, where Bush was declared the winner by a mere 537 votes. 

Hillary lost to trump in 2016

Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump in 2016 despite winning the popular votes by nearly 3 million. This was possible because of the Electoral College system, which awarded unearned victory to Trump who garnered  290 electoral votes to Clinton’s 228.

This is the reason the electoral college system has been criticized for allowing a candidate to win the presidency without receiving the most popular votes.

 This democratic absurdities have happened five times in U.S. history, including in 2000 when Al Gore lost to George W. Bush and in 2016 when Clinton lost to Trump. Why does the college usually favour the Republicans? I fear for Harris.