As President Joe Biden faces increasing pressure to reconsider his reelection bid, a significant number of Democrats are turning their attention to Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential presidential candidate.
According to a recent poll conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, approximately 60% of Democrats believe that Harris would make a competent president. In contrast, about 20% of Democrats are skeptical, and another 20% remain undecided.
This growing support for Harris follows Biden's underwhelming performance in the June 27, 2024, debate, prompting many within the Democratic Party to consider Harris as a more viable candidate against the likely GOP nominee, Donald Trump. Despite the mounting speculation, Harris has demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Biden, emerging as one of his staunchest defenders post-debate.
Oakley Graham, a Democrat from Greenwood, Missouri, expressed enthusiasm for Harris's potential candidacy. While acknowledging Biden's accomplishments, Graham expressed the need for fresh leadership, stating, "It would be nice to see a person of color, a woman, somebody younger to step up and lead that charge. That would inspire a younger generation to be more engaged."
Harris enjoys significant support among Black adults, a crucial demographic within the Democratic coalition. This group remains relatively more favorable towards Biden but sees Harris as a strong candidate. However, the broader American public remains more skeptical, with only 30% believing Harris would perform well as president, while 50% doubt her capabilities, and 20% are undecided.
Harris's favorability rating mirrors Biden's, with around 40% of U.S. adults holding a positive view of her, while roughly 50% view her unfavorably. Interestingly, Harris's unfavorability rating is somewhat lower than Biden's, with nearly 60% of Americans having a negative perception of the current president.
Among Democrats, approximately 75% have a positive view of Harris, comparable to Biden's support within the party. Shannon Bailey, a Democrat from Tampa, praised Biden's achievements, especially his infrastructure projects and measures to control inflation. However, Bailey regards Harris as more capable of handling the presidency's demands, both physically and cognitively. She emphasized the importance of clearly and effectively communicating the Democratic platform at this time.
Harris's role as a leading voice on abortion rights has also solidified her standing among many Democrats. Thomas Mattman, a Democrat from Chico, California, believes Harris's strong advocacy for abortion rights contrasts sharply with the Republican stance, making her a formidable candidate against Trump.
Despite her strengths, Harris faces challenges in gaining broader acceptance. She enjoys greater popularity among Black Americans compared to white or Hispanic adults and is viewed more favorably by women than by men. In comparison, other potential Democratic candidates, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, remain less well-known, with significant portions of the public lacking sufficient information to form an opinion about them.
The AP-NORC poll, conducted from July 11-15, 2024, surveyed 1,253 adults and has a margin of error of ±3.8 percentage points. This data highlights the complex landscape Harris must navigate as she positions herself as a potential presidential candidate, balancing strong support within her party with the need to win over a more skeptical general electorate.
By: Kpost
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