Kamala Harris favoured as potential Democratic candidate

WASHINGTON: Recent trading data from prediction markets shows a sharp increase in United States (US) Vice President Kamala Harris’ chances of securing the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential elections.

On platforms such as Polymarket and PredictIt, per cent of people predicting Harris as the nominee increased significantly. Polymarket, a crypto-based platform, saw these shares peak at 31 cents, indicating a 31 per cent probability—a huge jump from just 7 per cent earlier in the day.

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Similarly, PredictIt registered a doubling of shares to 35 cents, showcasing a growing confidence in Harris’ potential candidacy.

The increase in market speculation comes amidst internal discord and panic within the Democratic Party about the viability of current US President Joe Biden as the presumptive nominee.

Concerns arose following Biden’s debated performance against former president Donald Trump. Several times durian the debate, Biden was muttering under his breath, and made several mistakes.

This has prompted calls within the party for Biden to consider stepping aside in favour of Kamala Harris. James Several Democrats voiced support for the vice president, suggesting she could either remain as the vice-presidential candidate or potentially move up.

In a funny twist of events, a meme cryptocurrency named “KAMA,” inspired by Harris herself, increased in value as well. Many view this a reflection of heightened public attention and speculation regarding her political future.

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Recent polling data from CNN further supports Harris’ growing prominence. The data indicates a tight hypothetical race between Harris and Trump, with both candidates polling closely among registered voters.