Even as the presidential race starts gaining momentum in the US, President Donald Trump has given his election campaign fresh impetus with focus on wooing the IndianAmerican voters. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi continuing to rule the hearts of these Indian diaspora voters, whose strength is over two million, Trump is banking on PM Modi as his “trump card” in the ensuing elections this fall.
Nothing could explain it much better than the campaign released by Donald Trump in Washington. The Trump campaign has released its first video commercial that contains short clips from PM Modi’s speeches and the US President Trump’s “historic” address in Ahmedabad early this year. In what was publicised as a historic event, Trump and Modi had addressed a mammoth crowd in Ahmedabad during the US President’s visit to India in February this year. Many then interpreted Trump’s visit to India as part of his initial campaign to woo Indian-American electors in his country.
“Trump is aware that PM Modi continues to be the hero of Indian diaspora in America, so he has started his campaign with the release of the video in which Indian leader is seen delivering a speech describing the US President as a man with extraordinary administrative skills,” says an Indian diplomat. Republicans must be considering Modi as a Trump card being used by Donald Trump to curry favour with Indian-American voters, he adds. While releasing the video, national chair of Trump Victory Finance Committee, Kimberly Guilfoyle said in a tweet, “America enjoys a great relationship with India and our campaign enjoys great support from Indian-Americans!”
The release of the Trump campaign this way is being seen as a response to Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden’s attempt to woo IndianAmericans. While releasing policy documents vis-à-vis India, Biden had on August 14 offered New Delhi all his support against any threat from Pakistan and China. Trump’s personal feedback suggested that Biden’s open offer to India against the countries inimical to it impressed IndianAmericans in the US. And, there is a possibility of these voters developing liking for Biden for that reason.
Sources in MEA believe, since America has sizeable numerical strength of Indian-Americans, Trump cannot take any chances, with Biden sparing no efforts to woo this segment of the electorate there.