Staff Reports
The Senate's slightly larger Democratic majority could boost the chances of Kamala Harris running for president in 2024. After struggling during her first two years as a state official, some have questioned her readiness for a larger role.
Since Joe Biden became the president, Democrats have relied on Harris to break numerous ties in the Senate. But, in November, the party gained an additional seat. According to historian Joel Goldstein, this will give Harris an advantage over the next couple of years.
Goldstein, who is a professor emeritus at a law school, noted that Harris' schedule will no longer be affected by the Senate's schedule.
More changes can be expected in the future that will help Harris become the leader of the Democrats.
Biden, who is 80 years old, became the oldest candidate to be elected president. An announcement regarding the president's reelection plans would put to rest any speculation about his possible successors.
If Biden decides to seek a second term, Goldstein noted that Harris' immediate future will be clearer and will not be affected by speculation about her potential presidential run.
There has been a decline in calls for Biden to step aside from the presidential race. Before the midterm elections, George Will of the Washington Post called for Harris and Biden to be removed from the race.
Despite the changes in the political landscape, Harris still faces questions about her role in the administration. For instance, when asked about the president's efforts to address the issue of migration to the southern part of the country, White House press representative Jean-Pierre said she did not have any information on the work that was being done.
During the time that she was asked about the issue, the government was preparing for a record number of migrants attempting to illegally enter the country. Harris blamed Republicans for the situation in December.
Biden drew attention to Harris' handling of the issue in September when he referred to the border as secure during an interview on NBC's Meet the Press.
According to federal data, the number of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border during the month of September was significantly higher than the previous year.
Biden tried to make Harris' role in the situation look like that of a vice president who was handling a crisis while also contributing to the development of a foreign policy strategy during the Obama administration. The White House criticized Harris' handling of various issues, particularly migration.
According to a book about the vice presidency, Biden was annoyed by Harris' portfolio. He did not ask her to do anything that she hadn't done as the previous vice president.
A friend of the president noted that Biden referred to Harris as a work in progress. In November, the political news outlet Politico reported that Harris' husband's efforts to outsmart potential rivals of the vice president had drawn the attention of the White House.
As Harris nears her third year in office, Democrats are already looking for other options to replace her.
A survey conducted by the Punchbowl News revealed that 52% of the Democratic staff members on Capitol Hill think that Pete Buttigieg would be the party's nominee in 2024 if Biden decides not to run.
The survey also ranked Harris as the most likely candidate to run for president in 2024. Other prominent Democrats who were included in the list of potential candidates were Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer.
It's hard to predict the future prospects of Harris as she continues to serve as the vice president under Biden.
A political analyst noted that the position of vice president has elevated many individuals, such as Biden and Mike Pence. However, it doesn't guarantee them a clear path to the nomination or the presidency. For Harris, the future of the office is dependent on the performance of the Biden administration.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Washington Examiner.
