The Democratic party seems to be considering Vice President Kamala Harris as their 2024 presidential candidate. They’re betting big on the idea that a Black woman can overcome a long history of racism, sexism, and her own political stumbles to beat the ever-controversial Donald Trump. America, in over two centuries, has elected just one Black president and never a woman. Even some Black voters are skeptical if Harris can shatter this deeply entrenched political ceiling.
The Obstacles: Missteps, Misogyny, and Misgivings
“Will her race and gender be an issue? Absolutely,” LaTosha Brown, a political strategist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Fund, bluntly puts it. Kamala Harris will face enormous challenges if she’s put on the top of the ticket. With barely three months to campaign, she’d need to unite the party and its donors behind her. Many Democrats, however, are enthusiastic about her chances.
A significant portion of the Democratic lawmakers are anxious that President Joe Biden, at 81, lacks the stamina to win another term and serve effectively. The fear is palpable: if Biden steps aside, could Harris energize the party? Meanwhile, Biden insists he’s not going anywhere, vowing to return to the campaign trail post-recovery from COVID-19, while Harris continues to bolster his re-election efforts.
Youth and Abortion Rights: Harris’s Ace in the Hole?
At 59, Harris is two decades younger than Trump and stands as a party leader on abortion rights—an issue that resonates with younger voters and the progressive base. Her supporters believe she could energize these voters, consolidate Black support, and bring her sharp debating skills against Trump.
If Harris runs, the contrast with Trump and his vice-presidential running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, couldn’t be starker. “That to me is reflective of America’s past. She is reflective of America’s now and future,” Brown says. But, despite her recent praise-worthy defense of Biden, some Democrats worry about her shaky first two years in office and her brief 2020 campaign for the Democratic nomination. Not to mention, the deeply ingrained racial and gender biases in America.
A Close Call: Polls Show a Tight Race
Recent polls suggest a dead heat between Harris and Trump, each with 44% support. Harris’s approval ratings, though low, slightly edge out Biden’s. Yet, Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez warns of no “safe option” among potential Democratic candidates.
Harris’s supporters argue that she has already endured and survived unfair attacks based on her race and gender, and is ready for more. The hope is that Black voters and women, some regretting their 2016 votes, will rally behind her. Still, Harris’s name recognition outstrips other Democratic hopefuls like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
The Risk Factor: Record and Race
A former Democratic lawmaker, speaking anonymously, thinks Harris’s record poses a bigger risk than her race. Harris’s tenure as vice president has seen staff turnover and little progress on key issues. “Any of it’s going to be a gamble, but I like the odds with another candidate, even if that means Kamala at the top of the ticket,” the former lawmaker suggests.
Trump, never one to shy away from divisive language, has previously questioned Harris’s eligibility and mocked her demeanor. His campaign denies accusations of racism and sexism, yet Trump’s base continues to echo his sentiments. Polling reflects this divide, with significant portions of the population doubting Harris’s capability due to entrenched racial and gender biases.
A Struggle for Acceptance: Patriarchy and Progress
Despite the rise of Black political leaders, there’s still a reluctance to accept women, particularly Black women, in leadership roles. Nadia Brown from Georgetown University sums it up: “Patriarchy is a hell of a drug.” Harris’s advocacy for reproductive rights post-Roe v Wade has bolstered her standing in the party, but doubts linger about her overall impact.
Black voters propelled Biden to the 2020 Democratic nomination, and Harris could potentially inherit this support. However, unity within the party remains fragile. Political strategist Donna Brazile recently joined a letter from 1,400 Black women supporting the Biden-Harris ticket and condemning party disunity. Yet, voters like Gina Gannon express frustration with perceived cover-ups of Biden’s frailties, blaming Harris as part of the problem.
In the end, the Democrats are staring down a historic decision. Betting on Kamala Harris means confronting America’s deep-seated racism and sexism head-on. It’s a gamble fraught with risk, but it could also be the bold move that reshapes the future of U.S. politics. Whether Harris can defy the odds and break through the hardest ceiling remains to be seen.
