At the Democratic National Convention this week, party members confidently predicted that Kamala Harris would emerge victorious against Donald Trump. They hailed her as a historic leader, a beacon of hope, and referred to her as “the president of joy.” Amid this overwhelming optimism, however, former First Lady Michelle Obama issued a sobering caution: “No matter how good we feel tonight or tomorrow or the next day, this is going to be an uphill battle.” Her warning was soon overshadowed by the excitement of the 17,000 attendees at the convention in Chicago, but it underscored a pressing reality for Harris: the real challenge is only beginning.
More than a month after President Joe Biden endorsed her, Harris has yet to present detailed plans on how she would tackle the nation’s most significant issues, such as immigration, crime, and climate change. She has not yet sat down for a comprehensive media interview to address tough questions about her past policy shifts, leadership style, and the scrutiny surrounding her race and gender as a historic candidate. As John Anzalone, a pollster for the last three Democratic presidential nominees, pointed out, “We can’t put our heads in the sand. She’s a Black woman. The bar is going to be higher for everything. And guess what? That means, even mistakes. Mistakes are going to be magnified.”
Harris’ supporters acknowledge that she remains largely undefined to many voters, having spent much of the past four years in Biden’s shadow. This relative anonymity presents both opportunities and risks. David Axelrod, a former chief strategist for President Barack Obama, noted, “The bad thing about vice presidents is that nobody knows who you are. The good thing about vice presidents is nobody knows who you are.”
With just over two weeks to prepare for her only scheduled presidential debate against Trump on September 10, which could significantly influence the race’s trajectory, Harris’ team feels no urgency to release a comprehensive policy platform or engage in media interviews that might disrupt the positive momentum her campaign has generated. So far, her advisers have positioned her policy agenda as an extension of Biden’s first-term accomplishments, especially in economic matters, though some specifics may differ.
For instance, Harris has abandoned her opposition to fracking and her previous support for Medicare for All, key positions in her 2019 presidential run. Her aides argue that while her values remain consistent, she has adopted more centrist policies out of practicality. “She’s going to work to support and lead pragmatic common sense policies that are going to directly relate to improving the lives of Americans,” said Brian Nelson, a senior campaign policy adviser.
Meanwhile, Harris’ allies anticipate that Trump will eventually settle on an effective line of attack against her. In recent days, he has employed a broad-based strategy, targeting her racial identity, demeanor, record as vice president, and perceived liberalism. “He’ll figure out how to get a message and land a political punch,” said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. “What you’ve seen with her is an ability to absorb the criticism and just keep going. And that is a really, really important political trait.”
However, some acknowledge that as Election Day approaches, the scrutiny on Harris will intensify. Sarah Longwell, a leader of Republican Voters Against Trump, commented, “People ask this question: Will people vote for a Black woman? And I actually think that’s always the wrong question. I think the question is, Will they vote for Kamala Harris, with her particular set of both skills and baggage? The biggest problem for Kamala Harris is that people view her as too progressive, and that’s going to hurt her with these swing voters.”
Polls indicate that public perception of Harris has shifted since Biden withdrew and she became the presumptive nominee. In a June AP-NORC poll, only 39% of Americans viewed her favorably, with 12% unsure. By August, those figures had improved to 48% favorable, with only 6% expressing uncertainty. Additionally, 27% of respondents reported a “very” favorable opinion, up from 14% in June. This rapid change suggests that public opinion could shift again as voters learn more about Harris.
This shift also suggests that Harris’ current surge might be less about her candidacy and more about Democrats’ relief over Biden stepping aside. Before he withdrew, nearly two-thirds of Democrats expressed opposition to another Biden run, with about half stating they would be dissatisfied if he were the nominee. Quentin Wathum-Ocama, president of Young Democrats of America, expressed mixed feelings of relief and excitement over Harris. “Do people know her? People are aware of her,” he said. “I can be excited, but I still want more.”
However, he may have to wait, as Harris has yet to release comprehensive policy details. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, noted that past Democratic efforts to provide detailed policy plans did not resonate with voters. “We used to do 10-point plans; they weren’t even satisfied with five-point plans,” Weingarten said. “I think that that’s not where Americans are.”
So far, Harris has provided a glimpse of her policy intentions. She has proposed federal limits on price increases for food producers and grocers, pledged to make permanent a $3,600 per child tax credit for eligible families, and introduced a new $6,000 tax credit for families with newborns. Additionally, she plans to build three million new housing units over four years and expand down payment assistance for renters. She also wants to accelerate a Biden initiative to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, aiming to reduce costs by 40% to 80% by 2026.
Trump’s campaign has focused on the lack of specifics in Harris’ platform and her avoidance of media interviews. At a recent rally in Asheboro, North Carolina, Jerry Zimmerman, a Trump supporter, acknowledged the challenge of defeating Harris, saying, “If they can prove that everything went fair, I’ll be cool with it. I think a lot of people will be cool with the outcome.”
With the election timeline compressed, both candidates have little time to pivot dramatically. Early voting in key states like Pennsylvania begins on September 16, with more states following shortly after. Both campaigns have already committed substantial resources to television ads, with Democrats planning to spend over $270 million compared to the Republicans’ $120 million.
Michelle Obama warned that mistakes are inevitable and urged Democrats to stay focused on defeating Trump. “The minute something goes wrong, the minute a lie takes hold, folks, we cannot start wringing our hands,” she said. “We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right. And we cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala, instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected.”
