Inside Kamala Harris's relationship with an Indian-American community eager to claim her

[WeekiWater]

Indian-American publications write about her regularly. Her first name means “lotus” in Sanskrit. She takes pride in grinding her own Indian spices. And she has been known to reference slogans that were used by Indian independence fighters like her grandfather.

If Kamala Devi Harris runs for president, the Democratic senator is poised to be championed by Indian-Americans, a constituency with significant representation in the donor community, growing numbers of political activists and candidates—and a sizable presence in states that will play key roles in the Democratic primary, from California to Texas.

“She will change the game if she runs for president,” said Anurag Varma, a Democratic donor who frequently supports Indian-American candidates and “absolutely” would back Harris. “She will create a new game if she becomes president.”

Harris, of California, is the daughter of Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who was born in India, and Donald Harris, born in Jamaica. The senator identifies as both African-American and South Asian-American, according to her Senate website, which notes that she is the country’s first South Asian-American senator— a background that opens doors with a diverse set of voters.

McClatchy DC

[geardaddy]

1. I'd be very happy to vote for her!

[MariePinchon]

2. She is going to be a force

once more people get to know her.

I truly hope she decides to run.

[NewJeffCT]

3. I like her

she's in my top 10 or so (I don't have a top 2, 3, 5 or anything lower than 10)

My daughter was in her high school's Young Democrats club and had several Indian friends there as well, so I'll have to see if they like Harris the next time they get together.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. You can count on her

name being entered into the Nevada Caucuses. My precinct chair and I let it be known we will put her name before the body. BTW,Karmala just smiled when we told her.

[AlexSFCA]

5. she is my top 1 choice