President Biden had a cancerous lesion successfully removed from his chest last month, which was just now reported. At 80, questions continue about Biden's fitness to serve a second term. But questions also abound concerning Vice President Kamala Harris's job performance and ability to lead the country if Biden cannot. And they're from various corners of the political spectrum - G.O.P., FOX News, and even Democrats.
"She had not risen to the challenge of proving herself as a future leader of the party, much less the country," several Democrats told the New York Times.
Harris still struggles to carve out a lane for herself, and she feels the weight of being the first Black and Asian American to be the nation's V.P. However, with an approval rating no higher than 39 percent from multiple polls, can Harris convince the American public for a second term?
Can't win for losing conundrum
Harris supporters contend that she has been set up to fail with unwinnable assignments, like curbing the influx of immigration from Central America and expanding restrictive voting rights in stronghold GOP states. Both Republicans and Democrats, however, are unhappy with Harris's job performance on immigration.
Republicans are having a field day pointing to the unstoppable high volume of migrant crossings and drug trafficking under her watch. They assert that Harris's ineptitude as the Border Czar has aided and abetted Mexican drug cartels—the Sinaloa and the new generation Jalisco—in intentionally contributing to the high incidents of fentanyl deaths in the U.S.
As a thorny issue, Harris didn't help herself in a tense interview with NBC's Lester Holt in June 2021 on the topic. When queried why she had not visited the US-Mexico border since taking office, Harris retorted that her team did. Holt, however, pressed her further on the issue. "You haven't been to the border," Holt shot back.
Republicans have made Harris the face of Biden's failed immigration policy to win political ground in 2024. However, Harris isn't scoring high within her party, either.
The Democratic party is holding out in enthusiastically endorsing Harris for a second term. Last month on Boston Public Radio, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren full-throatedly endorsed Biden. However, when it came to Harris, she demurred, sending shockwaves throughout the party and a signal to Kamala. When asked why she was not endorsing Harris now, Warren stated on BPR, "That wasn't a hard no, but it wasn't a hard yes either."
Harris is between a rock and a hard place within her party. Harris stirred debate, ire, and criticism from the progressive wing and with immigrant rights groups when she emphatically told Guatemalans not to come to the U.S. because they will be turned away. Her directive was seen as a betrayal to immigrants seeking asylum, an acquiescence to right-wing pressure, and a tone-deaf response to why many flee their countries.
Harris blew up social media with her remarks. Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lambasted Harris on Twitter, stating, "It would be helpful if the U.S. would finally acknowledge its contributions to destabilization and regime change in the region. Doing so can help us change U.S. foreign policy, trade policy, climate policy, & carceral border policy to address causes of mass displacement & migration."
The politics of being the first
The job of the V.P. is to support the president. Harris has to be politically adroit not to outshine Biden or to disappear in his shadow. Striking the right balance is difficult in this polarized era, especially for a woman of color in power who identifies as black. The "angry black" trope hovers over all sisters of African descent. Harris runs the risk of being too loud, too forceful, not knowing her place, not staying in her lane and being arrogant, albeit she is the V.P.
Harris must walk a tightrope to avoid this misogynoir trope when asserting her power and authority. Also, she mustn't be a titular head for fear of being perceived as unqualified or tokenized. Research shows that Harris is one of the most targeted politicians on the internet, and Fox News runs a constant thread of bogus articles about her.
The intersectionality of her race and gender is weaponized to discredit her ability. It's unsurprising to women and people of color that Harris being appointed as the highest-profile point person on immigration policy that previous administrations couldn't resolve is a setup for failure.
Harris's blunders are magnified, and her victories muted. "People need to cut Kamala some slack… she's got a tough job. She's not an eloquent speaker like Obama, but she's strong in her delivery, "Corinne Copper, a white Southerner of Lewisville, North Carolina, told me. "Vice President Harris has cast the tie-breaking vote 26 times in an evenly split Senate. Her position may prove essential with women's reproductive freedom under attack."
Harris has accomplished a lot since taking office. Alongside Biden, she helped America get vaccinated and rebuild the economy due to COVID. She also helped lead Congressional fights to protect voter's rights and expand workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain. She has also led on women's issues, such as reproductive justice and maternal health as well as child poverty.
In 2024, Harris will have my vote again.
