Joe Biden and his running mate Senator Kamala Harris have the best understanding of the Indian-American community, the diaspora leaders supporting the two Democratic candidates have said, describing US President Donald Trump as a "foe" who criticises India on the world stage.
With less than a fortnight to go for the November 3 presidential election, Indian-Americans on Friday asserted that Biden, first as a US Senator and thereafter as the vice president, has a strong track record of helping the community.
"After four years of the Trump administration, we know our children and grandchildren will not have the same opportunities as we had. We need a leader who understands our community, our values, our pride and appreciates our hard work and gives equal opportunity and say in his administration," said Ajay Jain Bhutoria, a Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur.
"The community understands who the real friend of India is, who the foe. Trump is a foe. Most recently on the debate stage saying- you cannot trust India's COVID-19 numbers and India is filthy. He has suspended the H1 Visa Programme, put trade deals with India in jeopardy, and has used (Indian Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's friendship for photo opportunities only," he alleged.
California State Assembly member Ash Kalra said that he has known Senator Harris and her sister Maya for over two decades.
"Kamala's pride of her Indian heritage runs as deep as her love for her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris. Kamala speaks fondly of her trips to India as a child and connects many of the ideals she fights for as an elected leader to the Indian values of her upbringing," he said.
Aditi Pal with Desi Blue said that the community has always known Biden as a friend of India.
"Seven years ago, as vice president, he told business leaders in Mumbai that the US-India partnership was the defining relationship of the 21st Century. As a Senator, he was instrumental in the passing of India's Civil Nuclear Deal. And it was during Obama-Biden administration that the two countries saw their best years for the Indo-US relationship. Joe's choice of Kamala Harris also gave us immigrants from India a sense of pride," Pal said.
"Joe's humility & inclusiveness is evident when he tells immigrants 'thank you for choosing America'," she said.
According to Ashok Bhatt, businessman and former California Water commissioner, Obama-Biden administration Democrats gave India priority. When Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, Obama-Biden welcomed him and opened up economic areas and visas to students and tourists. H1 visas became so liberal and India benefitted the most from it.
Biden is deeply connected to the Indian-American community. As vice president, Biden strengthened relations with India and Indian Americans, said Neha Dewan from South Asians for Biden.
Biden spends more than any candidate in US history
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's campaign has spent a record amount of money on television and digital advertising than any other presidential candidate in the US' history.
Data from Advertising Analytics, a non-partisan firm, revealed on Friday that the former Vice President has spent more than $582 million on television advertising since launching his campaign last year, The Hill news website reported.
Only last week, Biden's team spent $45 million on air.
Biden's campaign has another $57 million in television time reserved over the final 10-day sprint to the November 3 Election Day.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's campaign has spent $342 million in the last two years, according to Advertising Analytics.
The two sides dropped $160 million on television and digital ads in just the past seven days. Biden, Trump and their allies have run more than 100,000 advertisements per week since the beginning of October, according to counts maintained by the Wesleyan Media Project.
Most ads were run in Phoenix, Arizona; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Des Moines, Iowa; the three swing states that Trump won in 2016.
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