There’s no doubt about it, President Biden struggled greatly in the recent debate. But can Vice President Harris pick up the pieces?
As Kamala Harris has been put in the spotlight following an intense first 2024 debate.
The first general election debate of 2024 has magnified the already intense scrutiny on Vice President Kamala Harris. President Joe Biden’s performance led to immediate debates among Democrats about whether he should remain the nominee. As soon as the debate ended, Harris was on CNN defending Biden’s record.
“It was a slow start. That’s obvious to everyone,” she admitted to an unusually aggressive Anderson Cooper. “I’m not going to debate that point. I’m talking about the choice in November. I’m talking about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime. And do we want to look at what November will bring and go on a course for America that is about a destruction of democracy?”
Harris’s quick defense of Biden highlighted her significant role in advancing his agenda. She has been a prominent surrogate on the campaign trail and at official events. This increased her visibility as a potential successor to Biden in 2028 and the next in line should Biden be deemed unfit for office.
There is growing pressure within the Democratic Party for Biden to step aside. Democratic operatives are suggesting he withdraw so another candidate can challenge former President Donald Trump in November. On the Republican side, some, gloating over Biden’s shaky debate performance, have called for Harris to take over the presidency.
“If he were CEO and he turned in a performance like that, would any corporation in America, any Fortune 500 corporation in America keep him on as CEO?” MSNBC host Joe Scarborough remarked.
Adding to the pressure, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) filed a resolution urging Harris to invoke the 25th Amendment.
Both Harris and Biden suffer from low approval ratings, leading some Democrats to consider other potential candidates like Govs. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI). There is speculation that Harris’s weak polling numbers influenced Biden’s decision to run for reelection, despite his earlier implications that he wouldn’t.
Yet, Biden has also positioned Harris for future leadership, frequently referring to the Biden-Harris administration and enhancing her policy credentials through domestic and international engagements.
“Unfortunately for her, she is always held to a higher standard than anybody else before her because she’s a woman, because she’s black, et cetera,” noted Colorado-based Democratic strategist Michael Stratton. “But I’m not worried about Kamala Harris’s performance. She’s a tough cookie.”
Despite internal calls for Biden to step aside, senior Democrats have publicly supported his candidacy. Biden himself addressed his age-related challenges during a rally in North Carolina, asserting his capability to lead.
“I don’t walk as easily as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to, I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth,” Biden told a lively crowd.
Biden’s debate performance inevitably brought more attention to Harris, making her central to discussions about the future of the Democratic ticket.
“There will be more scrutiny on Harris, but I think she knows her stuff quite well,” Stratton commented.
While Republicans might relish the prospect of campaigning against Harris, GOP strategist John Feehery warned against underestimating her.
“I think Harris might be more formidable than people think, especially with abortion being one of the top issues of the campaign,” he said. “I wouldn’t write her off completely. Obviously she has some real weaknesses, but so does Trump.”
Harris’s favorability rating stands at a historically low 39.2%, just a point below Biden’s 40.6% approval rating before the debate. Nonetheless, Harris remains active on the campaign trail, traveling from Los Angeles to rallies in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, before returning to LA.
Despite facing tough questions from Cooper, Harris stood firm in her support for Biden.
“Yes, there was a slow start,” she acknowledged. “But it was a strong finish. Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people on substance, on policy, on performance. Joe Biden is extraordinarily strong, and that cannot be debated.”
Democratic strategist Tom Cochran echoed Harris’s sentiment, emphasizing the importance of Biden’s stance on key issues over his debate performance.
“It was bad timing to have an off day for Biden, and I think it’s important to acknowledge the weakness of his performance,” said Cochran. “Let’s also acknowledge that he has a day job of being president of the United States, which means he doesn’t have a lot of free time to prep. The good news is that most people watching the debate are already in one camp or the other.”
Cochran expressed confidence in Harris’s ability to handle the increased scrutiny.
“I think Harris’s answers demonstrated her understanding that the spotlight is going to heavily shine on her,” he said, “and she’s rising to the occasion.”
Stay tuned to the Fairview Gazette.
