Biden-Harris 2024: Is VP Kamala Harris a Political Liability?
Vice President Kamala Harris has been a fixture on the Biden-Harris 2020 ticket since President Joe Biden was sworn into office in 2021, but with Biden appearing all but certain to run again, the concern over Harris has shifted to whether she will be a political liability for the ticket.[0] At 80 years old, Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history, and Republicans may use this fact to attack him, suggesting that a vote for Biden would actually be a vote for Harris, who is 58.[0]
Last month, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) declined to give a full endorsement when asked if Kamala Harris should stay on as Joe Biden's running mate in 2024, during an interview with Boston public radio station WGBH. This sentiment was made public.[1] A string of Democrats are raising doubts about Harris' performances and even former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reportedly has her doubts.[2]
The New York Times revealed that “the painful reality for Ms Harris is that in private conversations over the last few months, dozens of Democrats … said she had not risen to the challenge of proving herself as a future leader of the party, much less the country”.[3] The article in question claims that, although off the record, influential Democratic figures in the U.S. think Kamala Harris's lackluster performance may have an adverse effect on a Biden-Harris ticket in the future, considering the President's advanced age. Very few of the disaffected are willing to speak out about it.
Harris has a lower approval rating than Biden, which means she could act as a drag on his reelection chances, according to rolling averages of poll results. Her approval rating is even lower than Biden's own lacklustre perception among voters.
Biden was quoted in ‘The Fight of His Life’ as calling Harris a ‘work in progress’ (Image: GETTY) and “I can’t think of one thing she’s done except stay out of the way and stand beside him at certain ceremonies,” said Democratic fundraiser John Morgan.
Chris Whipple's new book, ‘The Fight of His Life', has a quote from Biden in which he calls Harris a “work in progress”. Joe Biden has even voiced his concerns.[4]
0. “Kamala Harris Is Trying to Define Her Vice Presidency. Even Her Allies Are Tired of Waiting.” Yahoo News, 6 Feb. 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/kamala-harris-trying-define-her-130040050.html
1. “Column: Here's why Joe Biden won't be dumping Kamala Harris as his running mate” Yahoo! Voices, 5 Feb. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/news/column-biden-dump-harris-boost-150021905.html
2. “Democrats doubt about US VP's ability to win election” MENAFN.COM, 1 Feb. 2023, https://menafn.com/1105508586/Democrats-doubt-about-US-VPs-ability-to-win-election
3. “Kamala Harris has not ‘risen to the challenge' as VP ‘loses hope' from party ahead of 2024” Express, 7 Feb. 2023, https://www.express.co.uk/news/us/1731553/kamala-Harris-2024-democrat-lost-hope-vice-president-dxus
4. “How the White House was forced to get new desk chairs for 5ft 2in Kamala Harris” Daily Mail, 7 Feb. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11720043/How-White-House-forced-new-desk-chairs-5ft-2in-Kamala-Harris.html
