The verdict is in, and the American people have spoken. Kamala Harris’s approval ratings have plummeted to all-time lows, leaving no room for doubt. What went wrong? How did the first woman, black American, and South Asian American to hold the office of Vice President become so widely disliked?
Vice President Kamala Harris’s poor performance in the eyes of the American people is an undeniable reality. The recent poll, conducted this month, paints a grim picture of her standing with registered voters. With only 32% expressing a positive view, a whopping 49% hold a negative view of the Vice President. These figures reflect a net-negative rating of -17, the lowest in the history of polling for any Vice President. It is a clear indication that Harris has failed to resonate with the American public in a way that her predecessors never have.
Comparing Harris to her immediate predecessor, Mike Pence, the disparity is striking. Pence’s approval ratings, during October 2019, showed 34% positive and 38% negative, resulting in a relatively minor -4 rating. Even President Joe Biden, during his time as Vice President in December 2010, managed to maintain a positive rating, albeit a slim one, with 34% positive and 33% negative, creating a +1 split. In stark contrast, Harris finds herself in a deep hole of unpopularity.
The poll’s historical perspective reveals further alarming insights. Looking back to March 1995, Vice President Al Gore held a positive rating of 42% and a negative rating of 27%, resulting in a healthy +15 split. Dick Cheney, in May 2003, achieved an impressive +23 split, with 47% positive and 24% negative ratings. These stark comparisons only highlight the magnitude of Harris’s failure to connect with the American people.
One major factor contributing to Harris’s poor public image is her perceived mishandling of the migration challenge at the U.S.-Mexico border. Critics argue that she has not taken her role as a leader in the Biden administration’s efforts seriously. Her public speaking appearances have often been marred by what some describe as “word salads,” undermining her credibility and eliciting mockery from critics.
Despite Harris’s glaring unpopularity, President Joe Biden chose to stick with her as his running mate for the 2024 re-election campaign. Concerns over her poor approval ratings prompted the White House and Biden’s campaign to work on revamping her image, fearing she could be a liability to the ticket. However, the negative perception surrounding Harris seems to persist, leaving doubts about the effectiveness of these efforts.
Defenders of Harris, including former White House chief of staff Ron Klain and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, have attempted to attribute her unpopularity to racism and sexism. However, the poll from NBC News reveals that the majority of Americans have deep concerns about Biden’s mental and physical health, with 68% expressing worries about his ability to lead. Moreover, only 43% approve of Biden’s job performance, while 53% disapprove.
In a hypothetical general election rematch, Biden still maintains a lead over former President Donald Trump, with 49% support compared to Trump’s 45%. However, in a matchup against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the survey reveals a deadlocked tie at 47%. These results indicate that even with concerns about Biden and Harris, the GOP must tread carefully if they wish to secure victory in the upcoming elections.
As the American people grapple with deep concerns about President Biden’s fitness to serve, the unpopularity of Vice President Kamala Harris reaches unprecedented levels. Despite her historic unpopularity, Biden and Harris would still prevail over Trump in a hypothetical rematch. The question remains: Can the GOP capitalize on these weaknesses and secure a path to victory?
Only time will tell.
