As Joe Biden announces his re-election bid, the topic of Kamala Harris and whether she should remain as vice president has been a subject of debate. Despite other available topics, the veep question has come up, and many people have weighed in, including Elizabeth Warren who gave a lackluster response. Those who have suggested replacing Harris with someone else forget that it would be challenging to start a second term by getting rid of the first female vice president, especially one who is Black or Asian.
Although there have been cases of dismissing a vice president in the past, such as Thomas Jefferson replacing Aaron Burr, recent dismissals have been rare. The last time it happened was in the 1976 election when Gerald Ford replaced Nelson Rockefeller with Bob Dole. This was primarily due to Rockefeller being seen as too liberal and wealthy, making it challenging for voters to relate to him.
With Biden being the oldest president running for re-election and the possibility of him not completing his second term, the topic of Harris’s suitability for the presidency has been raised. While Harris has been breaking tie votes in the Senate and has been a passionate advocate for abortion rights, her track record in managing a team has been concerning. However, her performance has been improving, and she gave an essential speech recently on the Russia-Ukraine situation.
Despite being part of the let’s-replace-Harris camp, the reality is that it won’t happen. Besides, Harris would likely perform better as president than Donald Trump if Biden were to pass away during his second term. Therefore, discussing the replacement of Harris with someone else seems unnecessary.
As Biden maintains his fitness, one thing is sure: Harris is his running mate. With the possibility of Biden not completing his second term, Harris, who would be the nation’s first female president, may become the first female president of color. This scenario would undoubtedly make history.
