In a recent interview with CBS News' Bill Whitaker, Vice President Kamala Harris faced tough questions about the Biden administration's unpopularity and the growing calls within the Democratic Party to replace President Joe Biden. This confrontation comes amidst increasing speculation about Biden's capacity to lead the Democratic ticket in the 2024 election.
During the interview, Whitaker highlighted a CBS poll showing a significant drop in approval ratings among young voters for President Biden, from 70% at the beginning of his term to less than 50% currently. He bluntly asked Harris why she and Biden are so unpopular and why they aren't outperforming their Republican challenger, Donald Trump.
Kamala Harris is worried that Trump is gonna weaponize the DOJ to go after his political opponents if he wins.
THAT WOULD BE CRAZY. Imagine a president doing that?!?! No way… pic.twitter.com/42W3oGqySV
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 3, 2024
Harris responded by emphasizing the administration's accomplishments, particularly in areas like climate change and student loan debt relief. She argued that their challenge lies in effectively communicating these achievements to the public. "The challenge that we have as an administration is we gotta let people know who brung it to ’em!" Harris stated, asserting that the work they are doing is indeed popular with many people, even if that is not reflected in the polls.
Despite Harris's defense, there is palpable tension within the Democratic Party. Reports suggest that prominent Democrats, including former President Barack Obama and Jill Biden, are pushing for Joe Biden to run for re-election, despite concerns about his age and cognitive abilities. Kamala Harris is reportedly furious that she is not being considered as a potential replacement, with names like Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer being floated instead.
Elon is fact checking Kamala Harris..
Never deleting this app. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/yCwm1tzraO
— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) July 1, 2024
The situation has been exacerbated by Biden's poor performance in recent debates and his declining approval ratings. CNN's John King reported that Democratic leaders are in a state of panic, desperately weighing their options as the election approaches. This panic is reflected in the media and among Democratic voters, many of whom are calling for Biden to step aside to ensure a stronger candidate can face Trump in 2024.
Polls further complicate the picture for Democrats. An Emerson College/The Hill survey indicated that replacing Biden with Harris or Newsom might not solve the party's problems. In Georgia, a critical swing state, Trump leads Harris by a substantial margin, and Newsom fares even worse, suggesting that a change in candidates might not be the solution Democrats hope for.
As the Democratic Party grapples with these internal conflicts, the path to the 2024 election remains uncertain. The leadership's decisions in the coming months will be crucial in determining whether they can unify the party and present a formidable challenge to the Republicans. The ongoing debate over Biden's viability and the potential alternatives underscores the significant challenges facing the Democrats as they head into a pivotal election cycle.
Our country is in a big mess! It feels like the Titanic on the last half hour of its demise.