Kamala Harris, the sitting vice president and current presidential candidate, is navigating a delicate balance of running on President Joe Biden’s record while presenting herself as a new leader offering a “new way forward.” Harris has managed to seize the “change” banner from former President Donald Trump, frustrating his allies in the process. Her vision for the country heavily relies on Biden’s plans, with the DNC’s platform still mentioning a second term for Biden. Despite being part of the current administration, Harris is positioning herself as a different leader who represents a shift away from the politics of the past.
With two-thirds of Democrats wanting Biden to drop out after a poor debate performance against Trump, Harris’s candidacy represents a fresh start for many. Her age, race, and gender play significant roles in embodying change, according to Republican pollster Whit Ayres, who believes these factors contribute more to her appeal than specific policy positions. Harris’s campaign emphasizes that she is her own leader while highlighting her partnership with Biden over the past 3 1/2 years. The Trump campaign has criticized her lack of policy specifics and tried to paint her as more liberal than she presents herself.
Despite facing attacks from the Trump campaign, Harris’s fundraising efforts have been successful, with her campaign recently announcing a total of $540 million raised since Biden endorsed her in July. Harris has also sought to take credit for parts of Biden’s foreign policy record, including a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to warn about Russia’s invasion plans. Trump continues to try to associate Harris with the less favorable aspects of the Biden administration, such as the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Harris has positioned herself as a voice for the future, contrasting with Trump’s focus on the politics of the past, as highlighted in her post-convention national ad. The implicit message in Harris’ campaign is that Biden, despite his record, is still part of the old guard of politics. Former Obama aide Dan Pfeiffer believes that voters are looking for a more hopeful, new politics, and if Harris can demonstrate her ability to turn the page and offer a fresh direction, she stands a good chance of winning the presidency. Harris’s unique position as a sitting vice president and presidential candidate presents a novel approach to campaigning that has captured the attention of both voters and political analysts.
