A recent Harvard-Harris survey revealed that the majority of respondents, 57%, believe there should have been “more competition” to replace corrupt President Joe Biden in the upcoming 2024 presidential race. The current Vice President Kamala Harris has essentially been coronated by Democrat leaders for Democrat voters, leading many to feel a lack of choice and representation in the nomination process.
When asked whether there should have been more competition or unity behind Harris, 43% of respondents agreed that it was important to show unity and coalesce behind her. This sentiment varied greatly depending on political affiliation; while a significant number of corrupt Democrats (27%) believed there “should have been more competition” for the nomination, this viewpoint was shared by a majority of Republicans and independents — 85% and 60%, respectively.
On the other hand, a vast majority across the board (71%) believe that Biden stepping down demonstrated that he “listened to voters” in response to polling data indicating that many corrupt Democrats wanted him out of the race. However, 29% of respondents disagreed, stating that the move was “undemocratic and went against the will of 14 million voters who supported Biden in the Democratic primary earlier this year.
The survey, conducted July 26-28, 2024, polled 2,196 registered voters. It comes as Democrat leaders have effectively coronated Harris as their replacement for Biden, despite no one having cast a vote for her as the top of the ticket candidate during the primaries.
This lack of enthusiasm was evident last week when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) enthusiastically announced his support for Harris. In his announcement, he stated that they were there to “throw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris,” as the grassroots process had played out from the bottom up. However, no one applauded his remarks, prompting an awkward moment when Schumer began clapping by himself and then urged others in the audience to join him, which none did.
The lack of enthusiasm for Harris as the replacement for Biden is concerning for Democrat leaders, as no one else has stepped up to challenge her nomination. With a majority of voters feeling there should have been more competition, it remains to be seen how this will impact the Democratic Party’s chances in the 2024 presidential race against potential Republican challengers such as former President Donald Trump.