Harris Battle With Trump
Vice President Kamala Harris is facing a challenging task of presenting her policy stance to American voters. As a presidential candidate running alongside President Joe Biden, she is tied to the administration’s achievements and setbacks. Additionally, she carries baggage from her unsuccessful campaign for president before joining Biden’s team. During that time, she supported progressive policies which Republicans have used to label her as “dangerously liberal.”
Harris has distanced herself from some of her previous positions, such as banning fracking and endorsing single-payer healthcare. She has also pledged to uphold some of Biden’s commitments, including no tax hikes for those earning less than $400,000 annually. Harris’s journey to the White House will rely on her ability to navigate the country’s future while being discerning about her past. Success will hinge on uniting Democrats behind her vision while drawing attention to Republican candidate Donald Trump’s actions regarding abortion rights and democratic traditions. Her sudden prominence, following Biden’s decision not to seek reelection, means that everything must unfold swiftly. Even her campaign website lacks a policy section, symbolizing the need to simultaneously construct and execute her strategy.
According to Harris ally Bakari Sellers, she should concentrate on pressing issues like medical debt. Harris has embraced many of the same policies as Biden, promoting affordable child care, paid family leave, expanded health care, and addressing price gouging and hidden bank fees. She endorses new proposals announced by Biden after assuming the campaign, including term limits for Supreme Court justices and binding ethics rules. Harris has pledged to address the “clear crisis of confidence” facing the U.S. Supreme Court. Although presidential candidates typically outline policy proposals during primaries, Harris has leaped past this step, reducing the pressure to detail how new programs will be funded and implemented during the abbreviated campaign. Harris aims to build upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda and provide a sharp contrast to Trump’s plans regarding tax cuts for the wealthy and the Affordable Care Act.
To maintain Democratic unity, Harris needs to navigate rare but existing intra-party conflicts. For instance, billionaire donors have differing views on the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Lina Khan. While some suggest replacing her, liberals have come to her defense, but Harris has not commented on the matter. Progressive groups have expressed confidence in Harris and do not anticipate a significant departure from the Biden administration’s direction. However, they expect her to emphasize certain aspects differently. Although Harris’s recent comments on the Gaza war mirrored Biden’s standpoint, she placed greater emphasis on Palestinian suffering, demonstrating outreach to those affected by the conflict. Republicans aim to stop Harris from reshaping her image for the general election and intend to associate her with controversies from the Biden administration and her previous campaign.