The first Indian origin Senator Kamala Harris and the first Hindu lawmaker in the United States Congress Tulsi Gabbard on Tuesday announced the tour of four states which will hold the Democratic primaries next year.
The two Indian Americans announced their 2020 presidential bid recently.
Daughter of an Indian American from Tamil Nandu, Harris, 54, would travel to New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa and Nevada later this month, her campaign said.
Harris had officially launched her campaign late last month from her hometown of Oakland which was attended by an imposing 20,000 people. Besides, she managed to raise more than USD 1.5 million in less than an hour of her formal launch.
The Democratic colleague of Harris in the House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard, 37, who formally launched her campaign over the weekend would be in Iowa and Chicago this month, according to an announcement by her campaign.
"In Chicago, Tulsi will be visiting faith and advocacy leaders from a spectrum of denominations and cultural backgrounds. In Iowa, Tulsi will be sitting down with community leaders including the Asian-American, Latino, and youth communities," a media release said.
Both Harris and Gabbard have a huge support base in the Indian American community, which comprises just one percent of the United States population but are best-known for their fund-raising ability.
If the contest is close, Indian Americans can play a key role in some of the key early primary states.
According to an advisory released by her campaign, Harris, would spend the past two weeks in the four early primary States. Beginning with South Carolina, she will swing by New Hampshire (February 18-19), Iowa (February 23-24) and Nevada (February 28-March 1).
The 2020 presidential primaries would begin on February 3 with Iowa Caucus. This would be followed by New Hampshire primary on February 11, Nevada Caucus on February 22 and South Carolina primary on February 29.
The Super Tuesday is scheduled for March 3 which will have primaries in Texas, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, California, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont.
Several of the other Democratic presidential candidates have also declared their intention to be in these early primary States this month.
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker plans to be in Iowa, South Carolina, and New Hampshire this month, while, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has already made trips to Iowa and New Hampshire after announcing her presidential bid. She plans to be in South Carolina later this month.
-Sowmya Sangam
