One year before the American presidential election | Kamala Harris, the unloved vice-president

More unpopular than any other vice-president in 30 years in the United States, Kamala Harris is struggling to shake off her image as a neophyte politician. She enters the presidential election year with one goal in mind: to get Joe Biden re-elected.

First woman of color as vice president

Kamala Harris made history by becoming the first woman – and first woman of color – to serve as vice president. She is also there for less positive reasons: she is now the most unpopular American vice president of the last 30 years, with an approval rating of 39% and disapproval of 55%, a lower result than those of Mike Pence, Joe Biden, Dick Cheney and Al Gore at the time. Rafael Jacob, from the Raoul-Dandurand Chair, notes that the position of vice-president has always been extremely thankless, and that the arrival of the first woman of color to a key position, in the midst of a period of political division in the United States , led to more hostile criticism than any man could have expected. “That being said, even when we take this reality into account, Kamala Harris has had a lot of difficulties since taking office in 2021,” he said in an interview.

The two functions of the vice-presidency

What is the role of a vice president? In an interview, the philosopher Michael LaBossiere, who teaches theories of knowledge at A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, notes that the American Constitution confers two roles on the vice-president: he is the first in the line of succession of the president, and he is the president of the Senate, where he only votes to break a possible tie. “In recent history, the role of the vice president has expanded or contracted, depending on the administration,” he said, with Dick Cheney representing the apex of the vice president’s power, while Mike Pence has been the only modern vice president threatened with lynching by his president’s supporters. » During an election year, it is generally accepted that the role of the vice president is to balance the ticket, often to address perceived weaknesses in the presidential candidate. “For example, Mike Pence was chosen to unify the Republican Party – as strange as that may seem today. »

A position in the shadows

The role of vice-president has always been shrouded in vagueness, adds Rafael Jacob. “When you are vice-president, you are in the shadows, but if we take you out of the shadows, it is so that you can take the bullets that the president does not want to take politically. » Sometimes the physical risks are very real: in 1950, during a trip to Venezuela while he was vice president in the Eisenhower administration, Richard Nixon was the victim of an assassination attempt when a crowd in angry attacked his car with bottles and stones, trying to hit him. Nixon escaped unscathed. Most recently, the most important mandate given to Vice President Mike Pence by Donald Trump was to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far killed more than 1.1 million people in the United States. “It’s ungrateful! says Mr. Jacob. Mike Pence had no chance of coming out of this in a positive way. »Similarly, Joe Biden entrusted Kamala Harris with responsibility for the border between the United States and Mexico. “With such a complex and politically sensitive issue, it’s virtually impossible to do well. »

A problem of perception

Beyond the files, Kamala Harris has a perception problem, notes Michael LaBossiere. “And, in politics, perception is usually more important than reality. » Since taking office in 2021, her critics have not failed to raise the difference between the “sharp” Harris known for her outspokenness in the Senate, and the “word salad” Harris who makes headlines for having spoken some confused speech. “The fact that people are asking questions about Harris contributes to discrediting her, because asking a question often implies a prejudicial answer in many people’s minds,” LaBossiere said. Even articles that defend her are likely to be harmful, because they often highlight the perception problem, claiming that she does a better job than people think. From a perception point of view, it seems to be more of an obstacle than an asset. »

More to the left

For the next year, Kamala Harris’ role will be to bridge the gap between voters under 30 and Joe Biden, who just turned 80, notes Rafael Jacob, “M^me Harris can go further left than Biden. She has been very visible on issues related to the right to abortion, firearms, and the environment, which resonates greatly with young Democrats. Also, Biden is a very traditional Democrat, close to blue-collar workers and unions. Kamala Harris can help reach out to another generation, who see themselves less in these themes. » The under-30s will be ones to watch next year, he says. According to a recent Emerson College poll, Trump is more popular than Biden among those under 30, 45% to 43%, with 12% undecided. However, in 2020, voters under 30 voted for Joe Biden 59% against 35% for Donald Trump. Can Kamala Harris, who began a tour of American campuses earlier this year, help reverse the trend? “I think she will have no choice but to help,” Rafael Jacob said.

Political climate

One thing is certain: Kamala Harris will be traveling a lot in the next year. In 2020, during the pandemic, Joe Biden made numerous speeches by videoconference. But this time, he will have to visit dozens of states, a task in which Kamala Harris will be able to support him. That said, one year before the 2024 presidential election, much data is lacking to assess what the future duel between the Democrats and Republicans will look like. Front row: will Donald Trump be a candidate? asks Michael LaBossiere. “In the current political climate, I am inclined to think that most voters are not swayed by the vice president’s choice: they will vote for Trump, who is the most likely Republican candidate, or for Biden, whoever they are. the other candidates. But if Trump is unable to run, and it’s Biden against another Republican, then vice presidents might matter more. »

Five vice presidents who made history

Thomas Jefferson

First vice president of the United States from 1797 to 1801, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, before becoming president himself in 1801.

Theodore Roosevelt

Served as vice president in 1901, and became president after the assassination of William McKinley that same year. “Teddy” Roosevelt created the first national parks.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Becoming president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, Johnson surprised many observers by becoming a leader on the issue of civil rights and the emancipation of African Americans.

Al Gore

Vice-president from 1993 to 2001 under Bill Clinton, Al Gore was involved in the fight against climate change. This earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Dick Cheney

Vice President under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, Cheney is considered one of the most influential vice presidents in history, notably for his role in the United States’ decision to invade Afghanistan, then Iraq, after the attacks of September 11, 2001.