Original Article

Jacquelyn Bettadapur, a former leader of the Cobb County Democrats, is concerned about Vice President Harris’s political prospects. She stated that many Democrats do not know enough about Harris and that she is not an effective communicator. This view was shared by other Democratic leaders in key states who were interviewed and some spoke anonymously. Harris faces a crucial moment in her political career as Vice President Biden nears the halfway point of his term. If Biden seeks re-election, Harris would be a central part of the campaign.

If Biden steps aside, Harris would become the focus of heightened attacks and scrutiny. Many Democrats worry about Biden’s age and the lack of an alternative with the ability to win the party’s support and 270 electoral votes. Harris was supposed to be that alternative as the first Black or Asian American woman to win a nationally elected office. However, some Democrats fear that Americans are not willing to elect a woman of color as president, while others worry about Harris’s political skills. The Republican Party’s hard-edge tone adds to the concern. The Democrats are seeking a balance between excitement and safety, as seen in the 2020 election where they selected Biden, a White man and veteran of the party’s mainstream, because many believed he was the safest choice.