Kamala Harris’s potential to win has become an increasingly doubtful proposition as Democrats deliberate their strategy and the vice president reflects on her future. Harris’s troubled 2019 presidential campaign left a lasting impression of her as overly liberal and prone to confusing rhetoric.
Her vice presidency, marred by politically charged tasks like addressing the root causes of Central American migration, only reinforced this negative image. These assignments positioned her for failure, giving little room to correct public perceptions.
Harris grapples with the weight of Biden’s missteps ahead of 2024
Ordinarily, a full-length primary campaign might have allowed Harris to refine her messaging and prove her legitimacy by securing her party’s nomination. However, President Biden’s decision to run for reelection narrowed this opportunity, leaving Harris little time to reshape her public persona.
However, she inherited Biden’s political liabilities, from inflation to border policy failures, which created formidable obstacles. Polling conducted by J.L. Partners for the Daily Mail underscored Harris’s challenges. Inflation and the rising cost of living, issues exacerbated by Biden’s policies, were prioritized by 18% of voters as their top concerns.
Border security and immigration followed at 12%, while issues that could have highlighted Harris’s strengths, like leadership and abortion rights, ranked much lower. As political strategist Rob Crilly noted, this encapsulated the campaign’s uphill battle.
While theoretically possible, reframing these dynamics within a limited time was nearly impossible. Successful campaigns rely on steering debates toward favorable topics, but Harris faced the monumental task of shifting voters’ focus from deeply personal issues like inflation and border security.
Inflation, in particular, breeds daily frustration and disproportionately impacts key Democratic demographics, such as women and minorities. Harris could have distanced herself more from Biden’s mistakes, including clarifying her stances on contentious issues like fracking and border decriminalization.
However, such moves risked alienating progressive voters and provoking Biden without necessarily winning over skeptics. Political strategy dictates avoiding defensive explanations and instead pivoting to stronger ground, but the situation offered limited opportunities for such maneuvers.
Initially, Harris’s candidacy seemed to promise a stark generational and identity-based contrast as a 59-year-old historic figure opposing recycled polarizing leaders. The narrative of change initially generated enthusiasm but failed to address the deeper challenges rooted in the Biden administration’s early missteps, including chaotic decisions on spending, immigration, and Afghanistan.
Ultimately, Harris’s limited timeframe and the weight of Biden’s political baggage made the race an uphill battle from the start. Her campaign, though flawed, could not overcome these structural disadvantages.
The 2024 election outcome appears to have been shaped long before it began, leaving Harris to bear the consequences of circumstances largely beyond her control. The return of Donald Trump owes much to Biden’s miscalculations, which created an environment ripe for his resurgence.
