Who exactly is Harris, and what does she do? Kamala Harris almost came out of nowhere and suddenly gained popularity. She is now known to Koreans as Trump’s rival in the U.S. presidential election: everyone is aware of her.
Harris is particularly enjoying the convention effect. According to U.S. Elections Glossary and Terms, “a convention bounce or convention bump refers to an increase in support that U.S. presidential candidates in the Republican or Democratic Party typically enjoy after the televised national convention of their Party.” In a broad sense, the convention effect refers to the phenomenon where a political party or candidate’s support increases following a political event such as a convention. In the case of Harris, the political event was Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and the subsequent endorsement of Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination. After Joe Biden’s resignation, Harris’s popularity seemed to surpass Trump’s, and it is essential to see how much the convention effect will sustain and influence the actual election.
After the shocking assassination attempt against Trump, his steadfast response of clenching his fist with a bleeding ear became a sensation on the internet. While Trump enjoyed the convention effect, Trump’s victory appeared unquestionable until Harris took Trump’s convention bounce. “I spent all my life dealing with perpetrators. I know Donald Trump's type,” Harris said, reflecting on her past as a prosecutor at a rally in Glendale, Arizona. The statement went viral, just like Evan Vucci’s picture of a bloodied Donald Trump.
Harris made history by being elected as the first female vice president. She also broke new ground as the first Black person and first person of Asian descent to be voted into the office. If Harris wins the election in November, she will become the first woman to serve as President of the United States, a milestone Clinton aimed to achieve in 2016 when Donald Trump was elected.
The Federation of Korean Industries reviewed the platforms of both parties in the presidential election and found a clear divide in their energy policy and taxation approaches. The Democratic Party expressed interest in infrastructure and manufacturing, tax increases on the wealthy, climate change measures, protection of abortion rights, and gun control. Vice President Harris announced she would reduce the costs of food, housing, and healthcare. The Democratic Party also pointed out that former President Donald Trump directly threatened South Korea by raising the possibility of withdrawing U.S. forces from South Korea due to trade disputes.
In contrast, the Republican Party advocates for increasing the production of all energy sources, including oil, natural gas, and nuclear power. They will roll back energy-related regulations and ease restrictions on nuclear power.
The Republican Party highlighted that the U.S. is facing a 1 trillion USD trade deficit in their platform, committing to the imposition of universal tariffs and the passage of additional trade acts. They specifically stated they would adopt a buy American and hire American policy, warning that they would take strong measures on outsourcing jobs overseas from doing business with the federal government.
In the past, Trump made it challenging to hire overseas, so it was relatively easier for Koreans to find jobs in the U.S. right after Biden was elected. If Trump is elected again, Koreans wanting to enter the U.S. job market could consider targeting the period immediately after a change of Party following Trump’s term.
