From the get-go, President Biden’s re-election campaign was an uphill battle, marred by concerns about his age and capabilities. But now, with Biden stepping aside and Vice President Kamala Harris gearing up for the Democratic nomination, the party sees a fresh opportunity to shift the narrative. It’s not just about contrasting policies anymore; it’s about framing the race as a choice between starkly different visions for America’s future.
Harris, a former prosecutor, is nearly twenty years younger than former President Donald Trump. The generational difference alone sets the stage for a compelling contrast, extending into the policy and personality realms alike. Where Biden, a practicing Catholic, often struggled to even utter the word “abortion,” Harris dives into the topic with ease. She’s been seen at campaign events, engaging with women who share personal stories about miscarriages, abortions, and fertility issues, making the conversation about reproductive health more accessible and heartfelt. Harris speaks openly about the topic, leveraging her extensive work in reproductive rights since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which has helped her regain her political footing after a shaky start as vice president.
“This election will be won on abortion rights and there is no one better to make the case to voters,” Jessica Mackler, president of Emily’s List, an organization that supports pro-abortion rights Democratic female candidates, said. The group’s research suggests that Harris’s advocacy on this issue could mobilize young voters, women, and people of color — key demographics for the Democratic coalition.
Recently, she became the highest-ranking federal official to visit an abortion clinic, criticizing restrictive laws in Republican states as “Trump abortion bans.”
“We believe in freedom,” Harris declared at a recent Michigan event. “Freedom from the government telling us what to do about matters of heart and home. We believe in the right of people to make basic decisions like when and if they will start a family.”
Republicans, predictably, are ready to pounce on Harris’s perceived weaknesses. They aim to tie her to the less popular parts of Biden’s record, focusing on issues like inflation and immigration.
Democrats will also be keen on highlighting Harris’s law enforcement background against Trump’s extensive legal troubles, including his 34-count felony conviction in Manhattan. Many Democrats hoped to leverage Trump’s criminal status, but those plans were put on hold as Biden grappled with internal party dissent. Now, with Harris at the helm, the focus shifts back to character and experience.
“What is especially important in this case is her history as a prosecutor — someone who has stood for law and order,” said Representative Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat and former co-chair of Biden’s campaign.
Predictably, Republicans were quick to blur distinctions between Harris and Biden, painting her as merely an extension of his administration. “Kamala Harris is Joe Biden 2.0,” stated the Trump campaign, attributing issues like border control and inflation directly to her. At the recent Republican National Convention, speakers continually referred to Harris as the “border czar,” blaming her for the surge in undocumented migrants.
In response, Harris’s supporters aim to highlight Trump’s vulnerabilities. Erin Wilson, Harris’s deputy chief of staff, stressed that Harris will use her prosecutorial skills to confront Trump, not only on his legal and criminal record, but on the relentless campaign that he waged against Biden based on his age. Trump, who is only three years younger than Biden, is now the old man and Harris plans to capitalize on her relative youth and vigor to turn the tables against him, highlighting his many gaffes, blunders and non-sequiturs and questioning his mental fitness.
