Kamala’s Past Catches Up With Her
If Kamala thinks she can just replace Biden with no issues, she’s in for a major wake-up call.
As calls intensify for President Biden to possibly step aside from the 2024 race, speculation about Vice President Kamala Harris emerging as a challenger against former President Donald Trump in November has grown. Despite criticisms leveled at her during her own 2020 presidential bid, some lawmakers and liberal commentators argue she could be a formidable candidate.
Political strategist Basil Smikle emphasized the importance of Harris in engaging Black voters, suggesting that overlooking her could alienate a crucial constituency. However, doubts persist about Harris’s ability to succeed in a general election against Trump, whom Biden has characterized as a threat to American democracy.
During her 2020 campaign, Harris faced significant scrutiny for her prosecutorial record as both a district attorney and California’s attorney general. Critics, like Lara Bazelon, argued that her claims of being a “progressive prosecutor” were inconsistent with her actions, citing instances where she opposed criminal justice reforms and upheld questionable convictions.
One of the most notable criticisms came from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard during a Democratic primary debate, where she challenged Harris’s record on criminal justice, accusing her of incarcerating individuals for marijuana offenses and withholding evidence that could have exonerated an innocent man on death row.
Harris defended her record, asserting that she had worked to reform California’s criminal justice system significantly. However, these controversies continued to haunt her campaign, along with positions she took on issues such as healthcare, environmental policy, and taxation.
Despite these challenges, some Democrats have voiced support for Harris potentially stepping into a presidential role should Biden choose not to continue his candidacy. Figures like Rep. Summer Lee and Rep. Jim Clyburn have publicly backed Harris, emphasizing the need to support her leadership within the party.
Former Rep. Tim Ryan also expressed his endorsement of Harris in a recent op-ed, advocating for her nomination as the Democratic candidate for president in 2024. Biden himself has indicated his intention to remain in the race, dismissing speculation about his withdrawal despite ongoing critiques of his public appearances and policy challenges.
The Democratic National Convention scheduled for August will play a pivotal role in determining the party’s nominee for the upcoming election, with Harris emerging as a prominent figure amid the evolving political landscape. As discussions continue, Harris’s ability to address past criticisms and unite the party behind her candidacy remains a central question.
