‘I’m Kamala’: Why VP prefers to use her first name in 2024 presidential campaign

WASHINGTON, DC: During her initial rally as the presumptive Democratic nominee last month, Vice President Kamala Harris was greeted by supporters chanting "Kamala, Kamala" instead of "Harris, Harris," while waving blue and white signs bearing the name 'KAMALA'.

The transition from 'Harris' to 'Kamala' in the branding of the Democratic presidential candidate was a deliberate choice.

The Democratic Party's campaign swiftly transitioned its social media branding from 'Biden HQ' to 'Kamala HQ' within 48 hours following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race and his endorsement of Harris, thereby making her the Democratic nominee.

Why Kamala Harris uses her first name and not surname

Kamala Harris incorporated her first name into her branding strategy to seem more accessible and relatable to voters. This approach underscores her extensive political background while fostering an informal rapport with constituents, prompting them to keep her accountable.

The name Kamala, which carries cultural and ethnic significance, was bestowed upon her by her mother.

Harris is aware of the significance her name holds for women and communities of color—the profound effect it has when they see "Kamala" highlighted in her campaigns, Politico reported.

Kamala Harris aims for personal touch and stronger voter connection

Critics of Kamala Harris often use her first name as a form of insult, igniting a heated online debate about the pattern of addressing women by their first names while reserving titles and last names for men.

This issue was also prominent during the 2016 campaign, marked by sexist and gender-based attacks against Hillary Clinton.

As Harris quickly adapted to her role as the Democratic nominee, she and her campaign are adopting "Kamala" as a familiar moniker.

Following three years of efforts to reshape her image in Washington, this approach aims to showcase her extensive political background, including her tenure as vice president, while also presenting her as "Kamala" to voters and constituents.

“I think she has a 98 percent name ID rate in this country now. Whether they pronounce it wrong or pronounce it right, everyone has to say Kamala. It’s amazing, little girls with big names,” Lateefah Simon, who collaborated with Harris in the San Francisco district attorney's office, stated.

Simon added, “She’s not hiding her ethnicity. She’s not hiding who she is. She was first a public servant. The moniker on the website to give money says ‘Harris for President,’ but when she’s meeting folks, she’ll say, ‘Hi, I’m Kamala.’”

Other politicians who used their first name

Kamala Harris is not the only candidate to adopt this approach. Hillary Clinton occasionally used her first name during the 2016 campaign, and male candidates such as Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, and Beto O'Rourke have done the same.

However, in the current political climate, Harris' choice to use her first name in her presidential campaign can subtly convey additional messages, as observed by Jean Sinzdak, the associate director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

In a Washington where "Johns" and "Jons" constitute ten percent of the US Senate, it serves as a method for Harris to distinguish herself during a period when voters are eager for change in the political landscape.

“She’s reminding voters that she is in fact different," said Sinzdak, who called it a "smart move".

Sinzdak added that even though political rivals are mocking her first name by mispronouncing it frequently, Harris still prefers to be called 'Kamala'. It is a way to hit back at her detractors and strike a chord with her constituents.