Let’s face it: millions of Americans – and we know that means nearly all conservatives – want Vice President Kamala Harris to step aside.
That said, she’s already been confirmed as President Joe Biden’s running mate for next year’s re-election campaign, and there are few, if any, Democrats publicly stating they feel they’d be better for the job.
Presidential campaigns are undoubtedly emerging. Robert F. Kennedy has already launched his campaign, and Democrat Senator Joe Manchin is reportedly being considered for the No Labels ticket – but there is hardly a long list of Democrats desperately seeking a role that former Vice President John Nance Garner described as being “not worth a bucket of warm ****.”
Nevertheless, high-profile Democrats are questioning Biden’s confidence in Harris as a running mate to stop a resurgent Donald Trump. Her 20-point approval/disapproval deficit sparked former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to dodge a question twice on whether she believed Harris to be the best choice. “He [Biden] thinks so, and that’s what matters,” said Pelosi in a hardly rousing endorsement.
Contradictory, many Republicans would love Harris to stay on the ticket. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign is centered on what she perceives as Harris’ incompetence. If such a message resonates with voters, Biden will lose his re-election campaign due to the performance of his subordinate.
However, it’s not up to Republicans or Democrats to dictate Vice President Kamala Harris’ political future. It’s up to her, and she won’t go down without a fight.
Kamala Harris – Learning From The Past
With her relatively free time as a vice president, Harris has spent much of the year engaging with potential voters: minority groups, women and young adults concerned by hardline Republican stances on equality and abortion.
It’s something Trump has already perfected. A rank outsider who shot to political prominence through rallies attended by voters who felt disenfranchised, Trump gained a core support which only amplified during the run-up to 2016. His outspoken nature and fondness of Twitter helped speed this process up, but ultimately the fundamentals remain the same: engage with your core support, and they will back you.
Harris is not the sort to post on social media in all capital letters at any hour of the day, nor is she outspoken enough to have her comments relayed on the mainstream media.
Instead, she’s taking a slower approach to gain support. It might be lengthy, but every vote will matter if the hypothetical presidential election polls remain neck and neck.
Whether she is privately wondering whether the 80-year-old President Biden will be forced to step aside is only speculation. Nevertheless, it’s a process every vice president is briefed for in case they need to take charge of the country. If he does pass away or step aside, Kamala Harris will be president, giving her time to make her case to the American people on a national stage.
It might be a long shot, but given the expected competitive fight for the Democratic nomination in 2028, it may be Harris’ best chance to prove that she is the right person to lead the country.
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
