Support for Kamala Harris in Tamil Nadu

In a remote village in southern Tamil Nadu, approximately 8,000 miles from Washington D.C., residents are displaying unexpected enthusiasm for Kamala Harris, the presumptive 2024 Democratic presidential candidate. Giant blue posters featuring Harris's face, adorned with messages of good luck in Tamil, can be seen among the coconut trees and rice paddies. The local Sri Dharma Sastha Temple has become a focal point for this support, with villagers recalling a Rs 5000 offering made in her name back in 2014, when she was still California's attorney general. The village holds a deep connection to Harris's family, particularly her grandfather, PV Gopalan, who was born in Thulasendrapuram in the early 1900s. Despite his relocation to Chennai and later Delhi for his civil service career, the family has maintained ties to their roots. Local shopkeeper N Maheshwari notes that Harris's family continues to sponsor prayers at the temple, which fosters a sense of pride among the villagers. Residents have been closely following Harris's political journey since her vice presidential nomination in 2020, expressing hope that her potential presidency could enhance U.S.-India relations. While they acknowledge the distance and the likelihood of direct benefits for their village, the prospect of a woman from their homeland winning the American election is a source of great pride and aspiration for the community.