A plurality of Democrats in a June 18 poll would prefer the Biden campaign to select Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) as his running mate for the 2020 presidential bid, according to Forbes.
Additionally, the majority said they wanted to see a woman of color as vice president, signaling a widespread consensus as many protest police brutality and racial injustice against African Americans.
The analysis by Monmouth University surveyed over 2,200 Democratic voters in early June. According to the study, runner ups include Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) by respectively 13% and 12%. Other respondents also indicated they supported Asian American Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
The poll has some limitations though. The New York Times reports the respondents skew more heavily toward partisan Democrats, with most of them in Iowa or New Hampshire.
Despite widespread support for her vice presidential selection, many cite her “tough-on-crime” record with law enforcement as reasons to pick other candidates, as racial justice activists across the nation call for police and prison abolition. Some say that her candidacy may discourage young Black voters, according to CNBC.
LATEST STORIES
“Kamala Harris I think would undermine the hostility that Black Americans have toward Donald Trump,” James Lance Taylor, a professor of politics at the University of San Francisco, told CNBC.
The Sacramento Bee also reported that Harris has a reputation in California as a leader who “waited rather than led, who moved on controversial issues only once she saw what was politically viable.”
For example, Harris opposed marijuana legalization — for which Black people were mass incarcerated for — back in 2010, but now strongly supports it. Among many more examples, The Bee cited that the senator also didn’t support police and prison reforms, acting on it later when it became relevant.
As for her relationship with Biden, it seems that the two are in friendly terms, CNBC reported, despite their verbal attacks during debates.
Biden called Harris “a principled leader. After his son Beau’s death, Biden said she told him, “I love you, and I loved Beau.”
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story.
