A Quick Breakdown of How Bad Things Are for Kamala
Kamala Harris has apparently been more widely unliked, more quickly than any vice president in modern history,
SO WHAT
History strongly suggests Harris isn’t the future of the Democratic Party.
THE NUMBERS
The Los Angeles Time last week compared Harris’ average net approval rating after 11 months to those of her four immediate predecessors at the same point in their vice presidencies, and she was easily the biggest loser.
Even Dan Quayle, former President George H.W. Bush’s infamously unpopular veep, never sank as low as Harris in the polls during his first year in the White House.
- By way of explanation, the Times pointed to Harris’ perceived failures on the southern border and to racism and sexism she has faced as the all-time highest-ranking black woman in U.S. government.
- The U.S. has also become more partisan, making it harder for vice presidents to win broad public support.
THE UPSHOT
Democratic insiders, who don’t expect President Joe Biden to run for reelection, have increasingly lost confidence that Harris can be the future of the party.
- She may not have hit rock bottom yet: The four previous vice presidents lost popularity over their first terms.
- And more popular veeps than Harris, including Biden, have failed to move straight into the Oval Office.