Kamala Harris Faces Criticism and Support Regarding Potential 2028 Presidential Run

<p>As former Vice President Kamala Harris considers a run for the White House in 2028, a longtime advisor has responded to Democratic strategists and donors who claim she has missed an opportunity to politically reinvent herself after her 2024 election defeat.</p><p>Democratic strategist Maria Cardona, an advisor to Harris, defended the former vice president's policy proposals and campaign activities amid discussions among Democrats about her potential candidacy. Cardona described the criticism as "infuriating in its silliness."</p><p>A report from Politico, based on interviews with nearly 20 California-based Democratic donors and strategists, indicated growing skepticism among some party insiders regarding Harris' political future and her ability to distinguish herself from her unsuccessful 2024 campaign.</p><p>Doug Herman, a strategist who worked on former President Barack Obama’s campaigns, stated that Harris "totally blew it... She hasn’t gotten into the mix."</p><p>Former South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges, whose state is the first in the Democratic Party's 2028 presidential nominating calendar, expressed that he sees no significant changes in Harris, stating, "It seems like more of the same to me."</p><p>Cardona, who has experience in the Bill Clinton administration and the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, disagreed with the notion that Harris has not proposed new initiatives. She highlighted Harris' policy proposals, including expanding the Supreme Court, lowering the voting age to 16, and making Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico states, as significant contributions.</p><p>Harris, the first Black vice president, has also suggested that Black voters should be "transactional voters" rather than automatically supporting Democratic candidates. Cardona remarked that Harris is "still the most qualified person to be president of the United States that is mentioned as a possible candidate for 2028."</p><p>This year, Harris has been active across the country, initially on a book tour for her memoir "107 Days" and currently supporting Democratic candidates in the midterm elections.</p><p>While Harris has collaborated with Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and congressional nominees in her home state, some candidates in red states have reportedly requested that she not campaign with them.</p><p>Cardona noted that Harris has been engaging with various voter demographics, including young voters, women, Black voters, and Latino voters, and has been invited by many candidates to campaign with them. She emphasized that Harris has focused on winning midterm elections rather than on her own political ambitions.</p><p>Following a poor debate performance against President Donald Trump, Harris replaced Biden as the Democrats' 2024 presidential nominee after he withdrew from the race. Her brief campaign concluded in defeat, with Trump winning key battleground states.</p><p>If Harris decides to run again in 2028, she will benefit from name recognition and support within her party, but she will also face a Democratic base eager to move on from the setbacks of the 2024 election and a potentially crowded primary field.</p><p>A Democratic consultant, who requested anonymity, indicated that voters feel they have not heard much from Harris, which keeps the memory of her 2024 loss fresh. However, strategist Michael Ceraso argued that consultants do not represent the electorate's views. He noted that it took Biden three attempts to win the presidency and suggested that Harris could follow a similar path.</p>