Kamala Is Just Biden 2.0?

Vice President Kamala Harris has made efforts to distinguish herself from President Joe Biden’s administration, but recent polling suggests these efforts may be falling short. A CBS News poll published on Sunday reveals that a significant majority of registered voters, 83%, anticipate that Harris’s policies would closely mirror those of Biden. Specifically, 19% believe her policies would be identical, while 64% think they would be mostly the same.

Despite Harris’s attempts to present a unique policy vision, she has yet to provide a comprehensive policy agenda. Her most notable proposal so far has been an economic policy aimed at combating alleged price-gouging. Critics argue that this proposal amounts to price controls, and Harris’s limited policy offerings have left many voters uncertain about her stance. According to the survey, 36% of registered voters and 44% of independents feel that Harris has not clearly defined her positions. In contrast, only 14% of voters believe former President Donald Trump has not clarified his positions.

Harris also faces challenges in distancing herself from the current administration’s economic and border policies. The poll reveals that only 24% of voters believe Harris has had a significant impact on the economy, with another 33% acknowledging some impact. Independents are similarly divided, with 22% attributing a lot of influence to Harris and 28% attributing some. Notably, Harris cast the decisive vote for Biden’s $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act, which Republicans argue has been a contributing factor to rising inflation.

When it comes to the cost of groceries, nearly half of voters (48%), including 50% of independents, expect prices to increase under a potential Harris administration. In contrast, only 22% of voters, and 17% of independents, believe prices would decrease. A plurality of voters, 42%, and independents, 41%, believe grocery prices would fall under a second Trump administration.

Regarding border policy, 31% of voters and 33% of independents feel Harris has had a significant impact, while 28% of voters and 23% of independents believe her influence has been moderate. Harris was assigned by Biden to address issues related to the southern border and immigration in 2021.

Although Harris trails Trump in favorability in some polls, leading by just 51% to 48% overall and narrowly losing with independents at 50% to 49%, the Democratic National Convention in Chicago will provide her an opportunity to bolster her position. The convention will continue through Thursday, culminating in Harris accepting the party’s nomination for president.