'Inaccurate': Kamala Harris' Office Denies Reports of Phone Call With Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: The office of the US Vice President has dismissed the social media buzz about a telephonic conversation between Rahul Gandhi and Kamala Harris, terming the news 'inaccurate'. “This news is inaccurate as per the office of the US Vice President. Kamala Harris has not spoken with Rahul Gandhi,” a veteran US-based scribe said in a tweet.  

What Reports Claimed?

Reports claimed that the United States Vice President Kamala Harris and Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had a telephonic conversation on Thursday evening. This sparked significant buzz on social media, given Harris's Indian heritage and her potential candidacy in the upcoming US Presidential elections if President Biden steps down.

Although President Joe Biden has committed to defeating his Republican challenger in the next election, there is growing discussion among Democrats about the need for a leadership change due to Biden's age.

The news of the alleged conversation led some Congress supporters to celebrate Rahul Gandhi's rising international profile, while others speculated that it might have been a courtesy call from Harris congratulating him on becoming Leader of Opposition.  

What Congress Said?

Despite the social media buzz about a telephone conversation between Rahul Gandhi and Kamala Harris, Congress did not confirm or deny the news. However, the deliberate projection of Rahul's 'significance' in US presidential polls by certain party-affiliated social media accounts raises questions about the spread of fake news and highlights the need for mechanisms to contain it.

According to a New York Times report, Kamala Harris, of Indian origin, is actively considering running for the top position and is discussing potential running mates.   

19 Per Cent Drop in Indian-American Support for Biden

Meanwhile, a recent bi-annual Asian American Voter Survey (AAVS), conducted by APIAVote, AAPI Data, AAJC, and AARP, revealed a massive 19 per cent drop in support for President Joe Biden among Indian American voters.

Released on Wednesday, the survey showed that only 46 per cent of Indian Americans plan to vote for Biden in the 2024 election, a sharp decline from the 65 per cent who supported him in 2020.

This decrease marked the most notable shift among all Asian-American ethnic groups. The survey, conducted before the June 27 presidential debate between Biden and his Republican opponent, Donald Trump, also indicates a general decline in Biden’s support among Asian Americans.

Presently, 46 per cent of Asian American voters are expected to back Biden, an eight-point decrease from the previous election. Conversely, Trump’s support among Asian Americans has seen a slight increase to 31 per cent, up from 30 per cent in 2020.