In a significant political shift, President Biden announced on Sunday that he would not seek re-election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. This move places Harris in the spotlight as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.
The stakes are high: With the Democratic National Convention just weeks away on August 19, Harris’ candidacy is under intense scrutiny. Voters and party members alike must now weigh whether she is the best candidate to challenge former President Trump in the upcoming election.
Concerns loom over Harris’s ability to overcome her historical struggles with public perception and consistently low approval ratings. Advisors worry that her track record might not be enough to win over skeptical voters.
Basil Smikle, a prominent Democratic strategist, argues that Harris is the natural choice to follow Biden. Despite the criticism she has faced, Smikle believes the party’s infrastructure and donor base will rally around her. He dismissed the notion that another Democrat might be a better fit, emphasizing the importance of supporting a Black woman in a leadership role. “Where will the party find Black votes if they don’t back Harris now and in the future?” he asked.
Harris’s own bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination ended early due to poor polling. However, she remained a top contender for Biden’s vice-presidential pick. Biden chose her, citing her understanding of the nation’s deep divisions and the need for unity. He also highlighted the respect his late son, Beau Biden, had for Harris during their time as state attorneys general.
Harris has faced difficulties balancing her duties as vice president with her public image, which has resulted in declining favorability ratings. A June 2023 NBC News poll revealed that 49% of registered voters viewed her negatively, while only 32% had a positive opinion—marking the lowest net approval rating for a vice president in the poll’s history.
Smikle noted that many strategists felt Harris was “underutilized” early in the administration, missing opportunities to connect with the country’s evolving demographics. Criticism grew following a series of awkward media appearances soon after she took office.
Historian Joel Goldstein, who specializes in the vice presidency, pointed out that the pandemic limited Harris’s ability to engage in public roles. Her time was often consumed by presiding over a deeply divided Senate, where she set a record for casting tie-breaking votes. Goldstein also mentioned the unique challenge she faced working alongside the oldest president in U.S. history, which fueled early speculation about her future political ambitions.
Despite these hurdles, Harris has taken on significant international responsibilities, showing her capability for presidential-level tasks, according to Goldstein. This experience could be pivotal as she steps up to lead the Democratic charge in the next election.
