Kamala Harris’ new mission ahead of the 2024 election

For those looking for a taste of what Vice President Kamala Harris could bring to the campaign trail, her Howard University speech on reproductive rights is instructive.

After two years of scripting and speaking that has often disappointed Democrats, Harris has become looser, more assertive and more likely to speak out of the blue since her trip to Africa a month ago.

“This is the vice president that America is getting to know for the first time,” said LaFonza Butler, a former adviser to Kamala Harris, who heads EMILY’s List.

Now Harris, the first woman of color to serve as vice president, will be put to the test as President Joe Biden runs for a second term. While vice presidents rarely play a major role in the re-election process, Harris is poised to be the exception. Not only is she leading the fight on the Democrats’ big issue, abortion rights, but she’s also running alongside the oldest candidate in history, making her a potential president if need be.

Nikki Haley, a former Republican-run South Carolina governor, raised the issue Wednesday in an interview with Fox News. “If you’re voting for Joe Biden, you’re really counting on Harris,” Hailey said. “I don’t think he will live to be 86” (the age at which he will reach the end of a possible second term), the Republican politician added.

Harris’ mission until Election Day will be to energize the voters Democrats need most—women, people of color, and youth—while also weathering a relentless barrage of attacks from Republicans.

“Vice presidential candidates, if they make a difference, do so only marginally,” said historian Joel Goldstein. “But if you look at our recent history, many of our presidential elections have been narrowly decided.”

Harris’ appearance on Tuesday night, the same day Biden announced his re-election bid, provided the first glimpse of how he would approach the campaign. Her focus on abortion was sharper than usual as she targeted “extremists” whom she accused of depriving people of their rights. Harris linked efforts to curb abortion to efforts by Republicans to tighten rules on what can be taught in schools.

Cornell Belcher, a Democratic pollster, said Harris is “probably better placed to connect with this critical emerging congregation of the American electorate that we absolutely depend on to win a majority.”

In an AP-NORC poll from January, 43% of American adults viewed Biden positively, while 36% viewed Harris positively. Among Democrats, Biden scored 78 percent and Harris 67 percent, with 10 percent saying they don’t know enough about Harris to form an opinion.

However, Harris featured prominently in Biden’s video address, walking alongside the president, hugging First Lady Jill Biden and taking selfies with a supporter.

Harris’ powers have changed since last year’s Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Great Britain. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that legalized abortion nationwide. Although Harris had previously dealt with other issues, such as curbing Central American immigration, she quickly embraced her new role as the most outspoken advocate for reproductive rights.

When a copy of the decision was leaked, Harris reviewed it with a small circle of assistants in the West Wing office. “How dare they?” she repeated, according to a then-employee who wished to remain anonymous.

The phrase was quickly incorporated into her scheduled speech for that evening. Anger over abortion has helped Democrats cut their losses in the midterms, and the party expects them to remain in the center of voters’ attention.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis, a potential Republican presidential candidate, recently signed a statewide abortion ban after six weeks. Women will have more time to have an abortion in case of rape or incest, but will have to provide documents such as restraining orders or a police report.

Source: Associated Press.

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