Kamala Harris: A Vice President of Consequence?

The office of Vice President has long been known as the graveyard of political ambition. Founding father, John Adams was known I have widely disparaged the office one that was heavy on symbolism, but which yielded little political power. Apart from breaking procedural ties in the US Senate, the office of the Vice President is largely seen as an agent of the President. The Vice-President may have the ear of a sitting President but ultimately is essential function is to carry out the vision of the administration he serves. The political consequences of his office ensures that he receives few of the benefits of being part of a successful administration, and almost all the blame for the failures of any sitting President. Examples of Vice President who could not transfer the successes of past administration to a successful run for the Presidency are easy to find. Vice President Al Gore, while not helped by the indiscretions of Bill Clinton, was arguably still well positioned to mount an effective Presidential campaign. Put in charge of nurturing federal support of emerging in industries in Silicon Valley, Al Gore had witnessed the emergence of a thriving tech sector that would play a key role in the creation of a thriving economy. Internationally he had been part of an administration that had waged a successful military campaign in one of the divisive regions of the world while only losing a handful of us service men. Unlike Hillary Clinton, Gore’s time in office had been free of incidents like Benghazi. Yet despite the economic, environmental and military achievements of the Clinton administration Gore found himself unable to achieve sufficient recognition for his achievements and found himself defeated by an opponent who many had perceived as a weak contender for the office of the Presidency. It is hardly that more than a few of those who have aspired to the Presidency have declined to the office of the Vice President.

Yet despite the limitations of the office of the Vice Presidency, there a those who have already suggested that Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris may well prove a consequential choice, one that could result in the selection of America’s first African American President. Advocates of this argument point a confluence of unprecedented factors that could result in a successful bid for the Presidency. Harris role in a Biden role is likely to be both consequential and highly visible. For the next two years Harris will have the opportunity to cast deciding votes on legislation that is likely to voters that span the political spectrum. Immigration, the environment, and the rebuilding of America’s infrastructure are likely early priorities for the incoming administration. Each of these issues will provide Vice President Harris with an opportunity to deepen alliances with groups that represent core Democratic constituencies. The ability to develop and deepen political alliances will not be limited to just Democratic interest groups. It is almost certain that Biden will deploy Harris as his messenger, thus providing the Vice President to increase her visibility in key battleground states such as Arizona, Florida and Ohio. In addition to political assets such as visibility and political votes, Harris would also be able to lay claim to several historical first that could provide her with unmatched political resources. Hillary Clinton may have already claimed the honor of being the party’s first female candidate, but a Harris candidacy would well galvanize turn out amongst African American and woman voters to a degree that surpasses the expectations of Democrats in 2020.

Those wishing to see Harris run for President would do well to remember that the political aspirations of Presidents fall and rise on the success of the administration they serve. A successful Biden administration can only enhance Kamala Harris’s future political prospects. Conversely, the failure of a Biden administration to gain control over a deadly pandemic and revive America’s moribund economy could end a potential Harris campaign for the Presidency before it began. For this not to be the case Harris’s supporters will need more than destiny. Should Kamala Harris seek the Presidency, the former Senator from California, will also needs the fruits of a successful Biden administration with which to lay claim to the Presidency. Only then is destiny likely to be tempted to join her political quest of becoming the first female African American President of America.