Will Kamala Harris make a good president? Most Democrats think so, poll shows

As President Joe Biden faces a increasing drumbeat of unit to driblet his reelection bid, a mostly of Democrats deliberation his vice president would make a bully president herself.

A caller canvass from nan AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research recovered that astir 6 successful 10 Democrats judge Kamala Harris would do a bully occupation successful nan apical slot. About 2 successful 10 Democrats don’t judge she would, and different 2 successful 10 opportunity they don’t cognize capable to say.

Since Biden’s statement debacle connected June 27, galore Democrats person privately and moreover openly looked to Harris to measurement successful and win Biden arsenic nan party’s statesmanlike nominee, believing she has a amended chance against GOP nominee Donald Trump. For her part, Harris has remained wholly loyal to Biden, being 1 of his toughest defenders successful nan aftermath of nan disastrous statement performance.

Oakley Graham, a Democrat successful Greenwood, Missouri, said while he is “pretty happy” pinch Biden’s accomplishments successful office, he felt that he would beryllium much excited to support Harris astatine nan apical of nan summons and that it was “about time” a female becomes president.

“I cognize he’s sewage unfinished business,” Graham, 30, said of Biden. “But it would beryllium bully to spot a personification of color, a woman, personification younger to measurement up and to lead that charge. I would dream that that would animate a younger procreation to beryllium much engaged.”

Black adults –- a cardinal contingent of nan Democrats’ conjugation and a group that remains comparatively much favorable to Biden than others — are much apt than Americans wide to opportunity that Harris would do well.

As for Americans much broadly, they are much skeptical of really Harris would execute successful nan Oval Office. Only astir 3 successful 10 U.S. adults wide opportunity Harris would do good arsenic president. About half opportunity Harris would not do a bully occupation successful nan role, and 2 successful 10 opportunity they don’t cognize capable to say.

Harris’ favorability standing is akin to Biden’s, but nan stock of Americans who person an unfavorable sentiment of her is somewhat lower. The canvass showed that astir 4 successful 10 U.S. adults person a favorable sentiment of Harris, while astir half person an unfavorable opinion. There are much Americans pinch a antagonistic position of Biden: astir 6 successful 10. About 1 successful 10 Americans opportunity they don’t cognize capable to person an sentiment of Harris, whereas astir everyone has an sentiment connected Biden.

About three-quarters of Democrats person a affirmative position of Harris, which is successful statement pinch really Democrats position Biden. Seven successful 10 person a favorable position of him.

Shannon Bailey, a Democrat who lives successful Tampa, praised Biden’s accomplishments arsenic president –- peculiarly pinch his infrastructure rule and efforts to tame ostentation — and said he’ll beryllium “remembered fondly.” But she had a much favorable position of Harris than she does nan incumbent president because, successful Bailey’s view, nan vice president appears much “capable of handling nan taxing quality of nan job.”

“It’s not conscionable nan beingness stamina part, but besides nan cognitive reasoning portion correct now,” said Bailey, 34. “It’s important to beryllium capable to concisely and persuasively get nan connection crossed that is nan Democratic level correct now.”

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Bailey said nan Democratic Party needs Harris and a moving mate “who tin really motivate group to spell retired to nan polls” — a task that she’s skeptical Biden tin do arsenic effectively.

Harris’s position arsenic nan administration’s lead messenger connected abortion besides has endeared her to galore Democrats.

“I deliberation she would beryllium a very beardown advocator for abortion, has been and would proceed to be,” said Thomas Mattman, a Democrat from Chico, California. “The Republicans person gone pinch achromatic men arsenic their ticket, and some of them person said immoderate beautiful circumstantial things astir being opposed to abortion truthful I deliberation that would beryllium a very beardown argument.”

Mattman, 59, said he believes Biden will not beryllium capable to conclusion Republican nominee Donald Trump — a imaginable that leaves Mattman “very distraught.” Harris would beryllium a overmuch much effective campaigner because Biden is incapable to “put pressure” connected his force and utilization his weaknesses, Mattman said.

Harris is much celebrated among Black Americans than she is among achromatic aliases Hispanic adults. She is much disliked by men than she is by women.

Other salient Democrats who person been floated arsenic imaginable replacements are little known than Harris is. About 4 successful 10 U.S. adults don’t person an sentiment of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and half are unfamiliar pinch Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Newsom is seen, overall, somewhat much negatively than positively. Americans are divided astir evenly connected Whitmer: 24% person a favorable position and 22% person an unfavorable view.

More Democrats spot Harris alternatively than Newsom aliases Whitmer arsenic personification who would make a bully president, though that’s partially because they’re comparative unknowns. About one-third of Democrats opportunity Newsom would make a bully president, and half don’t cognize capable to say. About one-quarter of Democrats opportunity Whitmer would do well, and astir two-thirds don’t cognize capable to say.

Trump’s moving mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, is chartless to astir Americans. In nan AP-NORC poll, which was conducted earlier Trump made Vance his vice statesmanlike choice, 6 successful 10 Americans don’t cognize capable astir him to shape an opinion. About 2 successful 10 U.S. adults person a favorable position of Vance, and astir 2 successful 10 position him negatively. Among Republicans, 61% don’t cognize capable to person an sentiment of Vance. About one-quarter person a affirmative position of him, and astir 1 successful 10 person a antagonistic view.