Even before President Biden’s withdrawal opened the door to the White House race, US Vice President Kamala Harris established herself as an uncompromising defender of abortion rights, a position that could now prove decisive next November.
“We will end Donald Trump’s extremism to ban abortion because we know that women should make the decisions they want about their bodies, without the government having a say!” the now possible Democratic Party candidate said at a campaign rally earlier this week.
Two years after the conservative majority on the Supreme Court, created by the former Republican president’s recent appointments, ended federal protections for abortion rights, the candidacy of a sincere activist for the cause could mobilize progressive voters in favor of the Democrats, making a difference in a race that promises to be undecided.
A fight that is not new for Mme Harris: While serving as a member of the California Attorney General’s Office, she fought the deceptive practices of anti-abortion activists. And as a senator, she was highly critical of Judge Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing before his nomination to the Supreme Court.
Enough to stand out from Joe Biden, who has always been cautious on the subject, regularly recalling his Catholic education to justify his discomfort on the subject.
In his State of the Union address to Congress earlier this year, Mr. Biden departed from his notes, preferring the terms “reproductive rights” or “freedom of choice” rather than “abortion.”
“She knows what she’s talking about”
When he entered the Senate in 1973, Joe Biden considered that the Supreme Court had “gone too far” in ruling in favor of federal protection of the right to abortion, in the famous “Roe v. Wade” decision, and he still described the medical procedure in 2006 as being “always a tragedy” and “not necessarily a choice and a right.”
Although his position has evolved since then, abortion advocates have always considered that the American president was reluctant to fully subscribe to their cause.
“What makes Mme “Harris is dangerous for Donald Trump on the issue of abortion because, unlike him, she knows what she is talking about and she can channel the anger of female voters,” said feminist author Jessica Valenti, interviewed by AFP.
“I don’t think people clearly understand how angry women were when Roe was overturned. And Ms.me Harris has the opportunity to capitalize on that,” she added.
On the specific issue of abortion, Kamala Harris has a 12-point lead over Mr. Trump, according to a YouGov poll conducted this week, a margin well above the 5 points that Joe Biden had in early July.
Although Mme Harris has not yet been formally nominated, the pro-abortion group “Reproductive Freedom for All” has fully committed to her side, estimating in a press release, through the voice of its leader Mini Timmaraju, that “no one has fought as hard to guarantee the right and access to abortion” as Ms.me Harris, “we are proud to support her.”
” Grace period “
On the Republican side, JD Vance, the vice-presidential candidate, has clearly stated his desire to “nationally ban” abortion, whereas Donald Trump is trying to please both sides.
“He is radical, he personifies Republican extremism on abortion,” says M.me Valentine.
“Having Mr. Vance on board will complicate things for Donald Trump if he wants to present himself as a moderate on the issue,” said Marc Trussler, a political scientist at the University of Pennsylvania.
According to him, “M’s messageme Harris clearly goes over better” than Joe Biden.
However, it is too early to know whether the issue, which has delivered local victories to Democrats, can weigh on the election, Mr. Trussler said.
“We are in the grace period of Mr.me Harris,” he stressed, recalling that she has not yet had to position herself on divisive issues within her own party, such as the conflict in Gaza or reform of the American penal system.