Kamala Harris: A vice for Biden?
One of the oldest misconceptions in politics is that vice presidential picks matter. Truth is, they rarely do.
Dan Quayle’s treatment by the media was not fair, nor was Lloyd Bentsen’s retort during the V.P. debate that Sen. Quayle was “no Jack Kennedy.” Yet the damage had been done. The “Quayle drag” appeared so strong that many thought George H.W. Bush would dump his running mate. But Mr. Bush instinctively knew that his White House fortunes didn’t rise or fall based on his Number Two.
Ditto for Sarah Palin. The Alaskan governor was quite intelligent, yet was unable to shake her “deer in the headlights” label. (For the record, that situation was entirely the fault of John McCain’s campaign, which kept Ms. Palin out of the limelight while pumping her full of academic position papers. Forced to become someone she wasn’t, Palin fell victim to Mr. McCain’s desire not to appear “out charisma-ed.”)
George Bush won on his merits, and John McCain lost on his; their running mates didn’t matter.
In the end, winners are determined by the American people’s degree of confidence in the presidential candidates. Sometimes the result is based on a positive (Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were down to earth), or a negative, such as widespread dislike (Hillary Clinton).
But Biden choosing California Sen. Kamala Harris changed everything. It is not hyperbole to state that Ms. Harris is likely the most important vice presidential pick in modern history. The $64,000 question is what side will benefit from Ms. Harris’ selection.
At 78 years old, Mr. Biden would be the oldest first-term president in history, which has created concerns. Some will criticize that as “ageism,” which is fine, because that’s exactly what it is. Far from an insult, it’s simply stating the truth that, biologically, humans begin to fail as they age, and thus are more prone to health issues and death.
Joe Biden is already two years past the average lifespan of the American male. Does that mean that he couldn’t function as President, or that he’ll falter under the pressure?
Not at all. Every individual is different, and Mr. Biden could perform with flying colors. But there is a distinct possibility (if not probability) that he could face health issues, and/or not seek reelection due to age, making a “President Harris” scenario quite plausible.
The elephant in the room is the possibility that Mr. Biden is experiencing some cognitive decline. That has not been determined, but to dismiss it outright is disingenuous. Mr. Biden has a long history of questionable statements and outright gaffes.
But unquestionably, his ramblings, stammering, and, at times, inability to articulate any words has raised concern among Democrats and Republicans alike.
Maybe there’s nothing to it -that it’s just “Joe being Joe” under the world’s brightest spotlight. But enough questions have surfaced, including in the primary debates, to have made Mr. Biden’s vice-presidential choice one of unprecedented importance.
Is Kamala Harris qualified? Absolutely. She touts both executive experience (Attorney General of America’s largest state), and legislative acumen. If California were a country, its economy would rank eighth in the world, and its population 36th, so representing the Golden State provides unrivaled governing experience.
Undoubtedly, Ms. Harris’ charisma will attract supporters. The question is whether her association with the far-Left will become a net negative.
It’s bad enough that being a liberal from California doesn’t play well in most of America. But the specter of extremists’ influence in the White House may prove too much for the most crucial voting bloc: Suburban white women in swing states.
Sure, many would be thrilled to see the glass ceiling broken, but that desire might be outweighed by the fear factor creeping into suburban America.
This summer’s riots hit closer to “home,” literally, than ever before. From violence in the suburbs, to calls from black leaders to take the fight to white communities and take back what they consider “theirs,” many suburbanites are more fearful than ever. And the unprecedented looting and murder in virtually every American city -- including “safe” areas such as Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and Philadelphia’s Center City -- is ratcheting up that anxiety.
Many swing voters believe that the Biden-Harris ticket is beholden to those pushing the radical agenda of defunding police and passing sky-high tax increases (to pay for everything from reparations to the rebuilding of looted cities).
It has gotten to the point where many suburbanites are no longer comfortable working in cities out of fear for their lives. And they worry that such a wave of violence could be coming their way.
Time will tell whether choosing Kamala Harris will make Joe Biden look like a genius by trumping Trump, or if she becomes a vice that will relegate the former vice president to lifetime membership in the “they also ran” club.
Buckle up.