Senator Kamala Harris formally announced her intention to run for president on Sunday at a rally in Oakland. Now, political reporters and analysts have begun to discuss whether Senator Harris could be an early front-runner in the upcoming Democratic primary.
According to a Washington Post poll, 56 percent of registered Democrats don’t know which Democratic candidate they would support in the 2020 Presidential Election. Although the polls have not established a front-runner, many reporters, analysts, and political advisors have begun to speculate that Sen. Harris may emerge as a front-runner.
Harris’ official candidacy announcement received praise from the press. An article in The Atlantic called it “a show of strength.” A Vanity Fair article stated that Sunday’s speech instantly put her in “the top-tier of Democratic candidates.” David Leonhardt, a columnist for The New York Times, praised her “handling of the spotlight her first two years in the Senate” and her “fascinating personal story.” He said he believed she should be considered a front-runner.
Former and current political advisors were also impressed by Sen. Harris’ performance.
“She really took a large step toward demonstrating—not telling people, but demonstrating to people—she’s a candidate who can go the distance,” Anita Dunn, a former advisor to Obama told The Los Angeles Times.
Many people wonder if Sen. Harris will be able to continue building this momentum long enough to win the primary. The same Atlantic article that recognized her speech on Sunday as “a show of strength” noted that her opponents believe that her momentum will be hard to maintain.
Most reporters and analysts believe that it is too early to tell how well Sen. Harris will fare in the upcoming Democratic primary. Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are still expected by many to throw their hats into the race. Still, most major news outlets view the early days of Senator Kamala Harris’ campaign as a strong start.
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