As Vice President Kamala Harris prepares for a potential presidential run in 2024, her supporters are weighing in on whether she should embrace her own policy agenda or follow in President Biden’s footsteps.
While some Harris supporters expressed satisfaction with Biden’s economic policies, many expressed a desire for her to prioritize different issues. Several attendees at a recent joint appearance by Biden and Harris in Maryland voiced their desire for Harris to focus on matters like voter access, immigration, and poverty reduction.
One supporter, Constance, explained, “I want to see her try to follow some of his, but I also want to see her come into her own, like kind of a combination.” She expressed her desire for continued economic progress while emphasizing her hope that Harris would “really focus on voting rights and human rights.”
Another supporter, who identified herself as Arvia Ross, stated, “I would like to see her have a mind of her own on certain things.”
Harris supporters Johnny and Nicolas expressed similar sentiments, advocating for a blend of Harris’ own ideas with traditional Democratic ideals. Nicolas, for example, said, “She’s free to include her own policies…not following the line of leadership and whatnot. But I know for the party and as a Democrat, a Democrat has certain policies that need to be focused on, so it should be a mix of the two.”
The desire for a blend of Biden’s policies and Harris’ own vision highlights the complexities facing Harris as she considers her future. She is caught between the need to uphold the Democratic platform and the desire to forge her own path. The coming months will reveal how Harris navigates this delicate balance, potentially impacting her political trajectory and the future of the Democratic party.
