As President Biden's approval ratings fall and his administration falters, one senior official has defied the polls, Kamala Harris.
The vice president admittedly got off to a rough start with rocky interviews that created headaches for the nascent administration.
However, a recent Gallup poll gave her a 49% approval rating, six points higher than the president. While that number may reflect how she's stayed clear of the White House's recent messes, Democratic Party insiders hopeful of defying historical trends in midterm elections are eager to embrace her relative popularity.
Townhall's Matt Vespa argues why that may be shortsighted:
Seriously? This is who Democrats think can be their secret weapon for the 2022 midterms. Is the bench really that thin? Also, why isn't Joe Biden at the top of this list? Doesn't the president have coattails? No. Not right now—and probably not for the foreseeable future. Inflation is spiking, economic growth is slowing, job creation is evaporating, and we're a mess abroad. Biden's trust in handling COVID has also dipped. Afghanistan has collapsed and Joe left Americans stranded. There's not much this administration can tout. The COVID vaccine isn't one of them. Biden inherited the vaccine from Donald Trump. It's why he needs these spending bills to pass, which will add to the deficit and make the inflation crisis worse—but he needs something. So, with Joe in limbo, Democrats think Kamala Harris could be their golden ticket.
Yet, The Hill reports how many Democrats believe that Kamala's popularity with the base will increase voter turnout among crucial groups.
“She is very popular with the base. She is particularly strong with women and with young people. Turn out for young people is going to be critical for the midterms and it is uncertain,” said Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster who advised President Biden's campaign. “Between turnout and swing independent women, I would think she would be quite aggressive because of her own appeal and popularity.”
The vice president can also use the midterms to boost her own brand, given questions around whether Biden will seek a second term as he says he intends to do.
Will having Vice President Harris on the stump help or hurt Democrats in next year's election? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
