US election campaign - Debate on Biden succession: comeback for Kamala Harris?
When Kamala Harris became Vice President of the United States next to Joe Biden in 2021, many in the USA thought: The jurist could follow Biden - perhaps even during his first term, if he weakened due to his advanced age. At least as a Democratic candidate for the Presidential election in 2024.
Then two things happened: Harris remained remarkably low-key in her role as Vice President. And Biden found so much enjoyment in his job that he decided to run for re-election.
However, after Biden's disastrous TV debate performance against Republican challenger Donald Trump a week ago, it is clear that the 81-year-old may not be the right candidate. And so, Harris, who was previously written off, is back in the spotlight.
Harris as a Pioneer
Harris is the first woman, the first Black person, and the first American with Asian roots to take the oath as US Vice President. She was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California. Her father had emigrated from Jamaica to study economics. Her mother - a cancer researcher and civil rights activist - came from India.
Today, the 59-year-old was the first black district attorney of San Francisco. From 2010 onwards, she held the position of Attorney General in her home state. In 2017, she was elected to the US Senate.
Her next goal: the White House. She had already wanted to run as a Democratic candidate in the 2020 Presidential election. However, nothing came of it - she withdrew before the primaries due to lack of success.
The unpopular Vice President
Biden then made her his number two. But in this often thankless job, she could never quite make a name for herself. According to polls, her popularity ratings are similar to Biden's.
The reasons for this are varied. Biden assigned her responsibility for the unpopular issue of migration. In June 2021, she had to defend herself when she had not yet traveled to the southern border of Mexico as Vice President. Her response: "I hadn't been to Europe either."
These and other statements caused head-shaking, with Harris unable to win over the migration issue. Some say Biden deliberately gave her an unsolvable task.
In the following years, Harris tried to find a topic with which she could score points with women voters and men. After the nationwide repeal of abortion rights in the United States, she tried to position herself as a fighter for women's rights - and was able to convince at least a little more.
However, Harris remained remarkably low-key. The criticism of her should not be free of racism and sexism. In the debate about a possible Biden successor, her name did not come up first. Instead, the governors of California, Gavin Newsom, and Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, were favored.
But now it seems the tide is turning. According to a poll commissioned by CNN, around three quarters of the surveyed voters and voters now say that the Democrats have better chances of winning the election if someone other than Biden runs.
In a scenario where Harris is running against Trump, the Vice President cuts some points better than Biden. In this case, 47 percent of the interviewees support Trump and 45 percent support Harris. Unlike with Biden (49 percent for Trump, 43 percent for Biden), Harris' result at least falls within the margin of error.
Other surveys show that Harris performs better in the key voter group of Blacks and among women than Biden. And now, behind the scenes, the voices of Democrats have grown louder who see Harris as a favorite in the discussion about a Biden alternative, as US media report.
What speaks for her?
The fact that the ranks are closing behind Harris has practical reasons. Unlike Whitmer or Newsom, Harris is nationally known due to her Vice Presidency. If it doesn't fall on Harris, questions would arise about what happened to the millions of donations that Biden and Harris collected in their names. It is open whether this money could legally be given to someone else.
Unlike her competition, she was able to gain international experience recently - for example, at the peace conference for Ukraine in Switzerland or at the Munich Security Conference.
If Biden were to really step down, it would be important for the Democrats to demonstrate unity before their party convention in August in such a historic situation and not split apart over the succession.
As Vice President, Harris is seen as a natural successor to Biden. In addition, it is important for the party to present an image: Would the party simply overlook the first Black Vice President? People of Color should not be made to feel that way. Such people refer to themselves as those who are not perceived as white and have experienced racism.
What speaks against her?
It has not been stated that the party will unanimously rally behind Harris in the event of a Biden withdrawal. Her weak performance as Vice President does not only bother Democrats since Biden's TV debate debacle. Some Democrats have viewed her as a burden in the campaign beforehand.
It is important that Biden stands behind her in case of such an event. Harris had the thankless task of defending Biden's performance in an interview after the TV debate debacle. "Yes, that was a stumbling start, but a strong finish," she said. Perhaps it's the same with her.
- Given her strong performance in the US election campaign, Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, has emerged as a potential contender for the Democratic nomination in the Presidential election of 2024.
- Kamala Harris, who was previously written off, is back in the spotlight following Joe Biden's disastrous TV debate performance against Donald Trump.
- Born and raised in Oakland, California, Harris became the first woman, the first Black person, and the first American with Asian roots to take the oath as the US Vice President in 2021.
- The 2024 Presidential election is a crucial moment for the Democrats, with Jessica Cisneros, a Texas congressional candidate, and other potential contenders also vying for the nomination.
- In the event of Biden's withdrawal, the Democrats must present unity before their party convention in August 2024, and Harris's national recognition from her time as Vice President could help achieve this.
- The unpopular Vice President Harris struggled to make a name for herself in Biden's often thankless job and faced criticisms over her handling of the migration issue.
- California man, Harmeet Dhillon, who is a prominent Republican lawyer and a national committeeman for the Republican National Committee, has called for a full investigation into Harris's handling of the border situation.
- In a hypothetical match-up between Harris and Trump in the 2024 election, the Vice President cuts some points better than Biden, with 45% of the interviewees supporting Harris and 47% supporting Trump.
- The controversy surrounding Harris's handling of the border issue and her weak performance as Vice President have cast doubts on her viability as a potential Democratic nominee for the 2024 Presidential election.
- Joe Biden's TV debate debacle against Donald Trump has raised questions about the 81-year-old's ability to run for re-election in 2024, and as a result, the focus has shifted to Harris as a potential successor.
- The upcoming US midterm elections in 2022 will be crucial for Democrats, and Kamala Harris's performance in her role as Vice President will play a significant factor in shaping her prospects for the 2024 Presidential election.
