President Joe Biden, at 81 years old, has announced his decision to step aside from the 2024 presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. Biden expressed his support for Harris on X, stating, “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.” This announcement came after weeks of pressure from Democratic lawmakers and donors concerned about Biden’s ability to endure another term.
Harris, in turn, has stated her intention to “earn and win this nomination.” Her potential candidacy presents a historic opportunity for the Democratic Party. They are betting that a Black woman can overcome the hurdles of racism, sexism, and her political history to defeat Republican Donald Trump. In the history of American democracy, only one Black president has been elected, and a woman has never held the office. These historical barriers cast doubts, even among some Black voters, about Harris’s chances.
Harris, who is two decades younger than Trump, is a prominent advocate for abortion rights, an issue resonating with younger voters and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Proponents of her candidacy view it as an opportunity to energize these voters, consolidate Black support, and showcase her debating skills against Trump.
However, Harris faces significant challenges. With only three months to campaign, she needs to unite the party and secure funding quickly. Her approval ratings, while lower than Biden’s, are slightly better. According to Five Thirty Eight, 38.6 per cent of Americans approve of Harris, while 50.4 per cent disapprove. Biden’s approval rating stands at 38.5 per cent, with a 56.2 per cent disapproval rating.
In a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, a July 15-16 Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted after an assassination attempt on Trump found Harris and Trump tied with 44 per cent support each. In the same poll, Trump led Biden 43 per cent to 41 per cent, but the 2 percentage point difference was within the poll’s 3 percentage point margin of error.
A 2023 Pew Research study highlights the perception that women are equally or better suited than men for key leadership qualities. The study revealed that 92 per cent of respondents believed a woman president would be as good or better at working out compromises and maintaining a respectful tone in politics, 94 per cent at being honest and ethical, 90 per cent at standing up for what she believes in despite political pressure, and 87 per cent at working well under pressure.
Melinda French Gates echoed the need for more women in government in a 2023 Time article, stating, “While no one would claim that women are a monolith who support any one party or agenda, there is evidence that women govern differently, working more collaboratively across party lines and introducing legislation on issues that have historically gone unaddressed.”
However, history offers mixed signals. While the US elected Barack Obama, the first Black president, in 2008, Hillary Clinton, the only woman to head a major party’s presidential ticket, lost to Trump in 2016. As the first woman and the first Black and South Asian person to serve as vice president, Harris has faced and is expected to continue facing unfair attacks related to her race and gender. Despite this, her supporters argue that she is prepared for these challenges.
Harris has faced criticism for her initial years as vice president, her short-lived 2020 presidential campaign, and the historical weight of racial and gender discrimination in the US. However, her standing in the party has improved, particularly with her advocacy for reproductive rights following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Despite her achievements, some Democrats remain wary. Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez remarked on Instagram, “If you think that there is consensus among the people who want Joe Biden to leave that they will support Kamala – Vice President Harris – you would be mistaken. There’s no safe option.” Concerns about Harris’s earlier political missteps and the broader societal issues of racism and sexism persist.
Supporters, however, point to her greater name recognition compared to other potential Democratic candidates like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. They argue that while Harris has her flaws, these are known and can be managed in a campaign, unlike the uncertainties surrounding other candidates.
Trump has consistently used racist and sexist rhetoric against Harris. In 2020, he falsely suggested that Harris, born in California, did not qualify to be a candidate for vice president. At a recent rally in Michigan, Trump mocked her, saying, “I call her Laughing Kamala. You ever watch her laugh? She’s crazy.” Such attacks echo his earlier false claims about Obama’s citizenship, which gained traction among his far-right supporters. Critics have accused Trump of perpetuating racial and gender biases, which could influence the electorate.
Harris’s role in defending reproductive rights and other progressive issues has been significant, with Biden crediting her for helping to prevent a “red wave” of Republican victories in the 2022 midterm elections.
As Harris steps into the spotlight, her potential presidency represents a significant generational and cultural shift for the United States. The question remains whether America is ready to embrace this change and elect a woman, and specifically a woman of colour, to its highest office.
