Vice President Kamala Harris finally has an issue area in which she could make a difference. President Joe Biden has her front and center in the fight on abortion rights – something that Harris can embark without too much difficulty. This issue is a Democrat staple in her comfort zone and Harris will now be the face of the movement to protect abortion. She has previously struggled to define herself since joining the administration as vice president.
Abortion Is a Critical Issue for the Left
Democrats are furious that abortion has been curtailed by the conservative Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down Roe vs Wade resulting in the administration of abortion to be sent back to the states. Democrats successfully ran on the issue in the 2022 Midterm election in which they performed better than expected.
Harris Has a Starring Role
Harris may have found a home in the abortion battle that will allow her to be more articulate while battling pro-life forces. Democrats see the freedom to have an abortion as a political and media relations bonanza that will galvanize the base and attract left-leaning moderates and Independents to one of their favorite policy stances. Progressives reckon this issue could put them over the top in congressional races in 2024.
The vice president is leading an administration task force that met while Biden visited Ireland during the week of April 10. Democrats are looking to build “privacy protections” that would counteract Republican dominated state legislature’s restriction of abortion. These laws and proposals can sometimes make it a crime for doctors to end pregnancies.
She will be traveling to Reno, Nevada April 18 to lead a public discussion on reproductive rights. These events are where Harris has struggled. She can get off topic and talk in a circular mode while repeating words that do not make sense. Now the stakes are higher and there is no room for flubs and foibles.
The Pressure Is On and Harris Must Deliver
The White House wants Harris to hold one event a week on abortion. This gives Harris an opportunity to shine in what will be a pivotal area where she will receive much media attention both from the left and the right. Left-leaning news organizations are already publicizing Harris’ new role, while right-leaning outlets are waiting for the vice president’s trademark speaking problems to be on display.
Abortion has been in the news recently because of a district court judge ruling about the abortion drug mifepristone that allows women to end a pregnancy easier. The ruling would invalidate the drug’s FDA approval. Democrats are fearful that this could amount to a national ban on abortions. The decision has been appealed by the Biden administration and could go to the Supreme Court. Conservatives believe that the medication improperly targets helpless fetuses in a manner that is unacceptable to their views on abortion.
Fight for Abortion Rights
Harris is expected to be an effective point person who can prosecute the case for abortion since she has prosecutorial experience and the ability to legally fight for an issue close to her heart. Harris started a recent task force meeting with the following quote. “We are having an experience where the women of America, in particular, have been in a state of fear about what this means for them and what this means for the people they love.”
However, Harris has struggled in the limelight during her tenure. Her approval ratings are in the upper 30’s when various polls are averaged. This is often lower than Biden’s approval. It is time she stands on her own in a critical policy area. The Biden camp thinks that the criticism of Harris has been unfair because of opponents acting in a racist and sexist manner. But Republicans believe there is nothing discriminatory about highlighting Harris’ use of “word salads,” her cackling laugh during serious moments, and her difficulty in basic communication,.
Her allies think that Harris could bring an important issue to the forefront and make sure she inspires voters that are integral to the Democrat coalition such as college-educated single women and young people. Thus, Harris has a chance to show the world that she has potential and the talents to lead instead of follow. So, the pressure is on for her to deliver the goods instead of wilting under the bright lights of prime time. Any weakness shown and her critics will be quick to pounce. However, with charismatic leadership in the coming months on abortion, her allies in the legacy media could give her friendly coverage that might improve her stature.
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Author Expertise and Experience: Serving as 19FortyFive’s Defense and National Security Editor, Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Foreign Policy/ International Relations.
