Eleanor Finch
After President Joe Biden announced he was withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race, the question of whether Democrats support Kamala Harris as his replacement has emerged. While Biden endorsed Harris as his successor, some Democrats remain concerned about her shaky first two years in office, her short-lived 2020 campaign, and the weight of a long history of racial and gender discrimination in the US. However, Harris has received endorsements from prominent Democrats, and an AP-NORC poll found that a majority of Democrats believe she would make a good president. Harris's supporters argue that she has found her voice in office, particularly around abortion rights, and that she has the potential to win over new voters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Kamala Harris' popularity among Democrats | 60% of Democrats believe she would do a good job, 20% don't believe she would, and 20% are unsure |
| Kamala Harris' popularity among the general public | 30% of Americans believe she would do well as president, 50% believe she would not, and 20% are unsure. 38.6% approve of Harris, while 50.4% disapprove |
| Kamala Harris' popularity among Black adults | More likely to say she would do well as president than Americans overall |
| Democratic leaders who have endorsed Kamala Harris | Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Gretchen Whitmer, Pete Buttigieg, Jim Clyburn, Gavin Newsom, Katie Hobbs, Amy Klobuchar, Pramila Jayapal |
| Reasons for supporting Kamala Harris | Strong media and debating skills, strong defender of Biden, ability to appeal to key Democratic demographics, potential to win over new voters |
| Criticisms of Kamala Harris | Unpopular with the American public, concerns about her first two years in office, concerns about her short-lived 2020 campaign, concerns about her ability to overcome historical racial and gender discrimination |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's popularity with Democrats
Kamala Harris has received endorsements from prominent Democrats for the 2024 presidential nomination, including President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Gretchen Whitmer. Biden, who chose Harris as his running mate in 2020, has expressed his full support and endorsement for Harris to be the Democratic nominee in 2024. Obama has also voiced his endorsement, referring to Harris as a "happy warrior" and pledging his assistance in her campaign against former President Donald Trump.
Despite this show of support from key Democratic figures, Harris faces some challenges within the party. Some Democrats have expressed concerns about her first two years in office, which have been described as "shaky," and her short-lived campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination. There is also a recognition of the weight of historical racial and gender discrimination in the United States, which could impact her candidacy.
Harris's popularity among Democrats is evident in a poll conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which found that about 6 in 10 Democrats believe she would make a good president. This sentiment is particularly strong among Black adults, a key constituency for the Democratic Party, who express greater confidence in Harris than in Biden. However, among Americans as a whole, opinions are more divided, with about 3 in 10 adults believing she would do well as president, while half hold an unfavourable opinion of her.
Harris's approval ratings within the Democratic Party are higher than Biden's, and she is seen as having the potential to attract new voters. Her strong defence of abortion rights and her vocal opposition to Trump's policies have resonated with many Democrats. However, there are concerns about her performance in battleground states, with some polls indicating that she may struggle to win over independent and swing voters.
Overall, while Harris has strong support within the Democratic Party, there are also concerns about her electability and the potential impact of historical discrimination. As the sitting vice president and with endorsements from party heavyweights, she has a significant advantage in the race for the 2024 Democratic nomination.
Judicial Ethics: Judges and Political Campaign Contributions
You may want to see also
Harris's potential to beat Donald Trump
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, launched her 2024 presidential campaign on July 21, 2024, the same day that incumbent President Joe Biden withdrew his bid for re-election and endorsed her. Harris became the Democratic Party nominee on August 5, 2024, and selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.
Harris' platform included national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and addressing climate change. She also supported federal cannabis legalisation, strengthening voting rights, and federal funding for housing. Harris proposed a "populist" economic agenda, marking a departure from Biden's policies.
Harris' campaign utilised social media platforms like X and Instagram to appeal to younger voters, adopting memes and album art to market Harris as a "cool girl". Her campaign also released deceptively edited videos of Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, leading to an X account dedicated to fact-checking these videos. Trump's campaign, meanwhile, commissioned an ad attacking Harris' views on transgender rights, with the kicker: "Kamala is for they/them, Trump is for you."
Despite Harris' strong defence of Biden, some Democrats remained concerned about her shaky first two years in office and her short-lived campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination. There were also concerns about the weight of a long history of racial and gender discrimination in the United States, with Harris' bid being seen as a historic gamble against US history of sexism and racism.
In a July 2024 Reuters/Ipsos poll, Harris and Trump were tied with 44% support each, while a Harvard University/Harris poll from February 2025 gauged voter satisfaction with Trump among former Harris voters. Trump ultimately won the election, securing 312 electoral votes to Harris' 226, and winning every swing state.
Harris' loss to Trump was attributed to various factors, including the unpopularity of the Biden agenda, anger over the cost of living, and outrage over immigration. There was also a swing among immigrant voting communities towards the Republicans, and a trend among Gen Z voters towards more conservative ideologies.
The FEC: Governing US Elections and Campaign Financing
You may want to see also
Democrats' concerns about Harris
While many prominent Democrats have endorsed Kamala Harris as their presidential nominee for 2024, some remain concerned about her shaky first two years in office, her short-lived campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination, and the weight of a long history of racial and gender discrimination in the United States.
Harris has received endorsements from Democratic heavyweights such as President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Gretchen Whitmer, who was also initially discussed as a possible nominee. Biden, in a social media post, wrote, "My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it's been the best decision I've made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year."
Despite these endorsements, some Democrats remain concerned about Harris' early tenure as vice president, during which she seemed unsure of her political role as Biden's deputy. Her poll numbers are not significantly higher than Biden's, and she performs worse than him in battleground states like Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada. Critics argue that Harris is unpopular with the American public, pointing to her failed 2019 presidential campaign and her tepid vice presidential tenure as proof that she is not a strong candidate or politician.
There is also anxiety among Democrats about Harris' electability, especially against Trump, who is coming off a politically advantageous streak. Harris will likely be seen as tied to Biden's legacy, which could be a reason for the party to look elsewhere for their nominee. Additionally, as the first Black woman with Indian heritage to be a serious contender for the presidency, she would have to overcome a long history of racial and gender discrimination in the United States.
Understanding Political Donations: Cal State Employee Guidelines
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Harris's defence of Biden
Despite earning praise for her strong defence of Biden, Kamala Harris has faced criticism from some Democrats for her shaky first two years in office, her short-lived campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination, and the weight of a long history of racial and gender discrimination in the United States.
Harris has been described as having a more "empathetic" approach to Israel's war in Gaza, for instance, calling for an immediate temporary ceasefire and describing the civilian death toll as a "humanitarian catastrophe." She has also reportedly urged Biden to take a stronger stance against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
On the issue of Taiwan, Harris has stuck to the script, stressing that the US "will continue to support Taiwan's self-defence, consistent with our long-standing policy." This is in contrast to Biden, who has taken a stronger stance than previous presidents, stating multiple times that the US would come to Taiwan's defence if it was invaded by China.
Harris's foreign policy outlook appears to align with Biden's internationalist approach, although with a more progressive inclination. She views US-led post-war global institutions and norms as the country's greatest foreign policy achievement and has cautioned against calls for the US to pull back from its global commitments.
When Biden announced he was ending his 2024 reelection bid, he endorsed Harris as his successor, saying, "My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it's been the best decision I've made... I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year."
Campaign Issues: Candidate Choices and Strategies
You may want to see also
Harris's record as vice president
Kamala Harris, the first woman and first person of colour to hold the office of Vice President of the United States, has had a mixed record during her time in the role. On the one hand, she has received praise for her strong defence of President Joe Biden and her role in some of the Biden administration's most significant accomplishments. On the other hand, some Democrats have expressed concern about her first two years in office, her short-lived 2020 presidential campaign, and the weight of the United States' long history of racial and gender discrimination.
Harris's first act as vice president was to swear in three new senators: Alex Padilla (her successor in the Senate), and Georgia senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. She presided over a 50–50 split Senate, which often called upon her to exercise her power to cast tie-breaking votes as president of the Senate. Harris cast 33 tie-breaking votes during her time in office, more than any other vice president in history, to pass key legislation such as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Harris has also been praised for her role in the Biden administration's accomplishments. She focused on several key initiatives and was instrumental in many of the administration's most touted successes. However, her own 2020 presidential campaign struggled to gain traction as she faced difficulty articulating her ideology and policy platform. This, along with criticism from reformers for her tough-on-crime policies as California's attorney general, led to a decline in her poll numbers.
Despite these concerns, Harris has received endorsements from several prominent Democrats for the 2024 presidential nomination, including former President Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Gretchen Whitmer. She has also been endorsed by current President Joe Biden, who called her his "best decision" as the 2020 Democratic nominee. Harris launched her 2024 presidential campaign after Biden withdrew his candidacy and later became the Democratic nominee, selecting Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. However, she ultimately lost the election to the Republican nominees, former President Donald Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance.
Harris' Win: Still Possible?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
While there is no unanimous consensus, a majority of Democrats believe that Kamala Harris would make a good president. Several Democratic leaders have endorsed her, including President Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Gretchen Whitmer. However, some Democrats remain concerned about her shaky first two years in office and her short-lived 2020 presidential campaign.
Some Democrats have expressed concerns about Kamala Harris' shaky first two years in office, her short-lived 2020 presidential campaign, and the weight of a long history of racial and gender discrimination in the United States. They worry that she might not fare well in battleground states and that her poll numbers are not significantly higher than Biden's.
A new poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 6 in 10 Democrats believe Kamala Harris would do a good job as president. About 2 in 10 Democrats don't share this belief, and another 2 in 10 are unsure. Her favorability rating among Americans overall is similar to Biden's, but the share of Americans with an unfavorable opinion of her is lower.
Several prominent Democrats have endorsed Kamala Harris, including President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Kamala Harris has several potential advantages as the Democratic nominee for president. As a 59-year-old Black woman with Indian heritage, she could appeal to key demographics within the Democratic coalition. She has also been praised for her strong defense of abortion rights and has the potential to win over new voters. Additionally, as the sitting vice president, she has the support of Democratic heavyweights and the opportunity to showcase her media and campaigning skills.
