Many articles have been penned in the last few years complaining about the performance of Kamala Harris.
Could she be, in fact, the worst VP ever?
What We Know
In January 2022, just a year into her first term as vice president, the BBC pondered where did it go wrong with Kamala Harris.
She was the first woman to serve “a heartbeat away from the presidency” and perhaps it was expected she could even be “heir apparent” to the presidency, the British news agency noted.
Things didn’t work out exactly as planned – if that was, in fact, ever part of a larger goal for the Democratic leadership.
A case was once made that the vice presidency could simply be a place to put someone on the shelf. Such was the case with Theodore Roosevelt, but in the modern era, the vice presidency can also be seen as s stepping stone to the Oval Office. Such was the case for Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, and of course Joe Biden.
Yet, it didn’t really work out for Walter Mondale, Dan Quayle, or Al Gore. And it probably won’t work out for Harris should she aspire to the presidency.
Kamala Harris: Worst VP?
In the months since the BBC article was written, dozens of other pieces have been penned that questioned whether Harris is up to the job.
Last year in an op-ed for TheHill.com, it was even questioned if Kamala Harris could be ranked as one of the worst VPs in history. Some have even said she is in contention to the be worst VP ever.
That explains why Harris kept a largely low profile over the past year.
A Kamala Comeback?
Now, it appears that the “Kamala Comeback” could truly be underway. Back in April, spoke in Los Angeles to abortion rights supporters and urged Americans to take action during “a critical point in our nation’s history.” Harris made the surprise stop at one of the many rallies and she managed to speak to the audience without spouting her nearly trademark “word salad” of rambling statements.
Instead, her message to the liberal base was actually quite strong.
“And so this is a moment that history will show required each of us – based on our collective love of our country – to stand up, and fight for, and protect our ideals. That’s what this moment is,” Harris said near the steps of the Los Angeles City Hall, the Associated Press had reported. “When you attack the rights of women in America, you are attacking America.”
However, the word salads did occur again after the speech.
A Stronger Speaker?
Though VP Harris will never be described as an orator of the ages, she clearly was more polished back in April and has proven to give a good speech when prepared. More importantly, it wasn’t a one-off fluke either. Yes, Harris had a very good day when she gave a good speech, but clearly, she’s been working on her delivery.
That much was clear as she also tore into the National Rifle Association’s (NRA’s) annual convention during her keynote address at the progressive National Action Network’s annual convention a few months back.
“We speak here while the NRA is holding its convention in Indiana,” Harris stated. “Now, you know what they’ve called it? They have called it a, quote, ‘freedom-filled weekend.’ So, we must ask: ‘Freedom-filled’ for who, exactly? Because it’s not for parents who pray that their children will come home from school safe from a classroom in Uvalde or Nashville. Not for those who pray that their loved ones will come home safe from a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, from a grocery store in Buffalo, or from everyday gun violence in communities across our nation.”
She then added, “Let us all declare: Enough is enough.”
Kamala Harris Resurgent or Staged Events Only?
Perhaps Harris has found the causes important enough to her that she is focused – at least enough to stay on message. The question will be whether she can be so quick on her feet and more importantly avoid the giggling and word salad when pressed on the issues.
A speech to a friendly audience shouldn’t be hard for any politician, and certainly not for one who was trained prosecutor – as Harris was – but it could still be hard for her to avoid her old fallbacks when finding herself in the hot seat.
Supporters of VP Harris shouldn’t get too excited of course, but her detractors – including supporters of the Second Amendment – may have a valid reason to be concerned. She has shown she may be more effective than some may have expected.
Author Experience and Expertise:
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
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