The Biden administration has enjoyed significant accomplishments over the last three years, as well as some significant downturns. Runaway inflation as well as landmark legislation passed into office have made for a roller coaster in politics, but there is one thing that most people can generally agree on. The Biden Administration – and Democrats as a whole – have a problem: Kamala Harris.
Introducing Kamala
Kamala Harris a Democrat and attorney out of California who is serving as Biden’s vice president. She’s the first female vice president in the history of the United States, and the first person of color to serve in the vice presidential seat as well.
Harris initially ran against Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, and made it into several debates before she eventually ended her campaign. Many leftist Democrats liked her for her strong personality and her political experience both in the California state legislature and the Senate, but it wasn’t enough to get her the formal nomination for President.
Kamala’s Political Career
In her political career, Harris has advocated for healthcare reform, federal decriminalization of cannabis, a ban on assault weapons, and progressive tax reform. Her policies are liberal but realistic in terms of what can be achieved in a deeply divided congress, a platform that she relied on during her short presidential campaign.
After she dropped out of the race for President, Biden officially picked her for the Vice Presidential pick, a move that was considered very popular by many who supported Biden. They were two of the more popular candidates in the primaries, and choosing her was seen as a smart decision by the Biden campaign.
Harris in the Background
Since Harris and Biden have taken office, though, the Vice President has seemed to fall to the background as far as national politics go. Many political watchdogs have commented on how uninvolved the vice president appears to be in the administration, and it’s something that many constituents have taken notice of.
Of course, commenting on the absenteeism of the vice president is not a popular stance to take, even if it might be true. As primary season continues, though, one thing is becoming abundantly clear, no matter how many Democrats want to ignore it. Kamala Harris is a problem.
Democrats Would Prefer Someone Else
Unfortunately, the problem is getting to the point where there are many voters and fellow politicians alike who would prefer not to see her on the ballot this November. The White House and staunch establishment Democrats might disagree verbally, but it’s likely that many of them have heard the rumors as well.
The fact of the matter is that many high-level Democrats would rather Biden choose a different running mate for his reelection campaign, and this is an opinion that has been brewing for a while. A piece was written in the Washington Post last year that outlined why some Democratic strategists and party leaders have been concerned about Harris’ electability.
Harris’ Electability to President
It’s not just a matter of Harris’ electability as the vice president, either. The chain of succession means that Harris is the first in line for the presidency, should anything happen to Joe Biden. Given Biden’s advanced age, this is rightfully a detail that many have been concerned about.
Harris also has not endeared herself to voters and the press during her time as vice president, either. She’s had questions posed as to her mental wellness when interviews and press conferences haven’t gone well, due to her tendency to create “word salad” with her answers and not provide straightforward details when asked.
A Discussion of Replacement
These concerns, founded or not, have made many concerned about the possibility of Harris taking the highest office in the nation. This is on top of the concerns that have recently been raised regarding Biden’s possible cognitive decline, leading many to wonder whether either of them is fit to run the country at all.
Despite these concerns, there hasn’t been a real conversation had about Harris, or removing her from the ticket this November. There are various reasons behind that, including sensitivity to voter response and a lack of a viable candidate, but the fact of the matter is that Harris may end up dragging Biden’s reelection chances down.
Harris is Unique
Harris’ various attributes are the reason why many establishment Democrats are having a difficult time considering replacing her. Harris is the first female vice president, as well as the first vice president of color, which is an achievement that she should rightly be proud of.
These things make replacing her a difficult sell, especially in an increasingly politically correct liberal environment. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and other high-profile Democrats are rightly concerned about the potential backlash, should they take Harris off the ticket and replace her with someone else who might not tick as many diversity boxes.
Judging Candidates on Their Diversity
The problem of Harris’ diversity is an issue that is unique to a rapidly changing political landscape. As the parties mature and move forward, judging increasingly diverse candidates on merit rather than on their diversity will become more commonplace. Unfortunately for Democrats, though, we aren’t quite there yet as a nation.
This leaves the Democratic establishment with an interesting dilemma. Should Harris voluntarily step aside or choose not to run on the Democratic ticket this November, Biden could theoretically choose another candidate – such as Gavin Newsom of California – who might be better suited to the seat. Or, he could choose to remove her personally.
Damage Control for Kamala
None of the potential scenarios regarding Harris are likely, and it’s appearing more and more certain that there will be another Biden/Harris ticket on the ballot this November. With Donald Trump shaping up to be the Republican candidate for president yet again, this could spell trouble for Democrats.
The situation is fluid, though, and there’s still time for Democrats to try to repair Kamala’s damaged political reputation. It’s unclear whether those efforts might be successful, but if they’re not going to replace her, then they need to remind voters why they liked her to begin with.
