President Joe Biden has once again put Vice President Kamala Harris in a difficult position, as he continues to tie her to the administration’s policy failures. This dynamic puts Harris in an awkward spot: she cannot campaign for policies aimed at addressing crime, inflation, and border security without undermining the Biden-Harris administration’s policies but must promote the administration’s policies to validate her record and candidacy.
Under the current administration, costs have risen by about 20 percent across the board, Russia invaded Ukraine, Hamas and Iran attacked Israel, there has been a surge of illegal migrants at the southern border, and the nation endured a deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan. This context makes it challenging for Kamala Harris to distance herself from the administration’s policies while still maintaining her position within the party.
Harris has attempted to set herself apart from Biden by emphasizing new ideas and focusing on long-term goals for the nation. However, Biden seems unwilling to allow her to campaign independently, insisting that she is a major player in the administration’s policies and laws. This creates tension between the two as they both attempt to navigate their political identities and establish their own brands of leadership.
Polling data shows that 57 percent of registered voters believe they are not better off under the Biden-Harris administration than they were four years ago under President Donald Trump, according to RMG Research. Additionally, only 25 percent of Americans rate the economic conditions under the current administration as “excellent or good,” according to a Pew Research survey.
These statistics demonstrate the challenges Kamala Harris faces in establishing her own political identity and gaining support from voters. As she navigates this difficult balancing act, it remains unclear whether she will be able to successfully distance herself from the administration’s policy failures while still maintaining her position within the Democratic Party.