San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who is the first African American woman nominee for California attorney general, opened up on breaking barriers at the Aspen Ideas Festival. “There is no such thing as inspiring to be the first,” Harris told us. “I believe we are inspired because we believe we can do the job better.”
“Issues that impact children have been marginalized far too long,” said Harris, who specialized in child sexual assault cases and has created a child assault unit in her office. The stereotype has been that “you care about children’s issues if you’re a woman, parent or care about cute, cuddly things.” Watch:
When reporters would ask her when she was elected district attorney in 2003, what it’s like to be the first female DA of San Fran — another impressive feat — Harris would respond, “I’ve always been a woman so I really don’t know what to tell you, but I’m sure a man can do the job just as well.” As far as being an inspiration to future generations, Harris said, I definitely appreciate the role of mentor. “My mother had a saying, ‘You may be the first to do many things, Kamala, but make sure you are not the last.’” Watch:
Kamala Harris credits much of her accomplishments to the mentors in her life. the first African American woman and South Asian American woman in California to become District Attorney in San Francisco and the Democratic nominee for the state’s attorney general — said that each of us has an obligation to lead the way for others.
“I would not be the democratic nominee for attorney general for the biggest state in the country if it wasn’t for people in every stage of my life – relatives and strangers – coming around me, supporting me and believing in me,” Harris told us. Watch the clip below on the importance of surrounding yourself with mentors:
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GOP poll shows Cooley winning; Harris' camp cries push poll
We've been waiting for this.
Less than a month after a Field Poll showed San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris and Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley in a virtual dead heat in the Attorney General's race -- a poll cheered by Harris' side -- the Cooley campaign is touting a different poll with a markedly different result.
The survey, conducted by Hill Research Consultants for the California Republican Party, shows Cooley, a Republican, leading Harris, a Democrat, 41 percent to 34 percent. It has other good news for the GOP nominee: his lead is even larger (15 points) in the Democratic stronghold (and HUGE market) of Los Angeles. The poll also found Cooley leading "every other media market except San Francisco," according to his campaign.
The poll was conducted between July 10 and 12 based on interviews with 602 likely voters. It asked:
If the election for Attorney General were held today and the candidates were Kamala Harris, Democrat and San Francisco District Attorney, OR Steve Cooley, the Republican and District Attorney, who would you vote for?
"It may shape up to be a Northern California-Southern California race," Pollster David Hill said. "Harris faces a lot of challenges in getting her campaign going -- being on the wrong end of the state, not having name ID and maybe there's a stereotype (that women) are not ready to be attorney general."
Cooley's side said the numbers are promising this early, as Democrats have a 14 point registration advantage in California. Harris' people were dismissive:
"Republican Party push polls like this must be taken with a heaping spoon full of salt," said Harris spokesman Brian Brokaw. "All credible public and private polls to date have shown this race to be a dead heat. When the campaign heats up this fall and voters learn about Kamala Harris's record of innovation and success as District Attorney, versus Steve Cooley's pledge to overturn national health care, repeal California's landmark environmental laws, and defend our state's failing revolving-door justice system, we will win."
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com