Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, is facing low approval ratings, with 42% of Americans viewing her very negatively, according to recent polls. This unfavorable view of Harris is significant, as it is uncommon for political figures to receive such low ratings. In comparison, the favorable and unfavorable numbers for President Joe Biden are quite distinct. However, Harris's favorable and unfavorable ratings are nearly indistinguishable, indicating that she is also in poor shape in terms of public perception.
The connection between presidents and vice presidents in the public mind is important, and Harris's readiness to serve, as she claims, may actually undermine President Biden. It is notable that last summer, Harris had negative ratings that outweighed her positives by 17 points, which was the highest recorded number for any vice president at that time. In December, a Gallup poll showed her upside down by an 18-point margin. The most recent Suffolk University USA Today poll revealed a 25-point gap between favorable and unfavorable opinions of Harris. In fact, according to the Los Angeles Times, Harris has lower ratings at this point than any of the previous four vice presidents, including Mike Pence, Joe Biden himself, Dick Cheney, and Al Gore.
Harris's attempt to reassure the American people that she is ready to serve if anything were to happen to President Biden may not work in her favor. Rather than instilling confidence, it further highlights the reason behind her need for reassurance. Moreover, reports have emerged that indicate Harris's handling of the border crisis has been ineffective at best and sporadically engaged at worst. According to a former senior Biden administration official, Harris did not see it as her responsibility and missed the opportunity to address the issue.
Instead of focusing on border security, Harris redefined her role to include working with the governments of Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador to address the root causes of migration. However, the problem at the border extends beyond these Central American countries, as people are arriving from all over the world. The Biden administration's policies have allowed for an overwhelming number of individuals crossing the border, with five times as many people coming compared to the final month of the previous administration.
Harris's abdication of her responsibilities and her failure to address the border crisis adequately have only worsened the situation. The administration's handling of this issue has been criticized for being politically thankless, and it has now become the number one issue affecting the country. These developments further demonstrate the challenges Harris and the administration face in gaining public support and addressing the concerns of the American people.
