Harris faces crucial challenge with biggest speech of his career

Kamala harrisKamala HarrisSusan Rice: Trump ‘is a liar and the whole world knows it’ Biden compares relationship with Harris to relationship with Obama: we trust each other Five takeaways from Intel’s final Senate report on Russia MORE faces a crucial challenge this week at the Democratic convention to convince parties of the party to enthusiastically back a Biden-Harris ticket despite a record of crime and justice that many associate with mass incarceration and racial inequality.

Harris’ Rise is meant to strengthen Biden with young voters and people of color. The California senator, 55, is the first woman of color to appear on a major party’s presidential ticket, and her background, age and gender all contrast with the top of the Democratic ticket.

The nod was also warmly received by much of the Democratic Party, including leading progressive presidential candidates, the Senator. Elizabeth warrenElizabeth WarrenNYT, security guard who has gone viral for her interaction with Biden, to play lead role at convention: Overnight Defense report: Trump rejects major cuts in military healthcare | The Trump campaign’s contacts with Russia posed a “ serious ” threat, according to a Senate report. Progressive Bowman Endorses Markey Ahead of Massachusetts Primary READ MORE (D-Mass.) And Sen. Bernie sandersBernie Sanders The Memo: Democrats present Biden as return-to-normal candidate Obama congratulates Biden on official nomination Ocasio-Cortez second in Sanders’ convention nomination MORE (I-Vt.).

Yet among the young progressives who have been the most difficult group on the left for Biden to win, doubts remain as to whether a Biden-Harris ticket will pass.

This is especially true given the fact that black voters put Biden at the top of the Democratic primary race.

“From a power standpoint for blacks, if blacks are to put Biden in the White House, we must also demand that our agenda be front and center in the first 100 days of administration,” said Head of Color of Change PAC director Arisha Hatch told The Hill.

Data from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape project in May revealed that young black voters were considerably less supportive of voting for Biden than older black voters.

While 91% of black voters aged 65 and over said they planned to vote for Biden, only 68% of black voters aged 18 to 29 said the same.

Robert Griffin, research director of the Democracy Fund’s Voter Study Group, told The Hill that while Biden’s numbers have improved since then, the alleged Democratic candidate “is still showing signs of relatively weak support among young black Americans.

“According to data… collected between July 16 and August 12, registered black voters are almost universal in their support for Biden (95%),” Griffin wrote in an email. “On the other hand, those 45 to 64 (84%), 30 to 44 (77%) and 18 to 29 (77%) are currently less engaged.”

Griffin continued, “We can certainly see this change as the race gets under way – campaigns generally tend to win back voting groups already predisposed to them – but it’s still a weakness at this point.”

Harris will begin working to change that dynamic with his speech Wednesday at the virtual Democratic National Convention, in what will easily be the biggest political speech of his career. His speech provides a great opportunity to try to sway the minds of young liberal voters who have doubts about Biden.

There are also doubts among those voters with Harris, a former San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general whose record has at times drawn criticism from the left. The New York Times, in an article earlier this month, noted criticism Harris has faced for failing to prosecute Golden State police for killing people.

Harris has been embroiled in the police reform issue since his presidential campaign ended late last year and returned to the Senate, sponsoring legislation to end police strangulation holds and visiting the Black Lives Matter mural in Washington, DC

Unifying the party and winning over the younger generations of voters for Biden is a key goal of this convention, something already on display in the former first lady. Michelle obamaMichelle LeVaughn Robinson Obama The Memo: Democrats introduce Biden as return-to-normal candidate Stacey Abrams leads the chorus in Democrats vs Republicans keynote address in streamer race MOREMonday night speech.

“I know that whatever our race, our age, our religion or our politics, when we shut down the noise and fear and really open our hearts, we know that what is happening in this country is just not fair. . It’s not who we want to be, ”Obama said in his speech.

The former first lady also expressed support for Harris on Twitter Tuesday afternoon.

“You have that. So many people will do whatever it takes for you and @JoeBiden elected this fall, ”Obama tweeted to Harris.

Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright has expressed confidence that Harris will step up calls made by Obama on Monday night by expressing support for meaningful change and warning of what another four years of Trump would mean.

“We need to remind people of the importance of what is at stake in this election. At the end of the day, losers don’t legislate and you can’t govern if you don’t win, ”Seawright told The Hill.

“So for any minor issues or disagreements that people may have with Joe bidenJoe Biden The Memo: Democrats present Biden as back-to-normal candidate Obama congratulates Biden on official appointment Jill Biden gives personal portrait of husband Joe MOREhistoric running mate, I will remind these people that the differences they have shouldn’t even begin to compare to the differences we have with Donald trumpDonald John Trump The Memo: Democrats introduce Biden as return-to-normal candidate Obama congratulates Biden on official appointment Jill Biden gives personal portrait of husband Joe MORE Mike penceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceTrump offers forgiveness to Susan B. Anthony Kamala Harris will help Biden with Latin American voters Biden, Harris to give his first joint TV interview to ABC’s Muir, Roberts MORE and the Republican Party’s agenda, ”he said.