By Suzanne Potter, reporter/producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.
California political analysts predict the race for president will tighten since President Joe Biden has dropped out and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
If elected, Harris would be the first Black woman and first person of Asian descent to ascend to the highest office in the land.
Lynn Vavreck, professor of political science at the University of California-Los Angeles, predicted it will re-energize the race on the Democratic side.
“There will be a flood of money coming into whatever the new ticket is likely to be,” Vavreck pointed out. “The race will once again tighten to be somewhere around 50/50. That will roll us into the Democratic convention. And from that point forward, it’s not that long until early voting starts.”
Harris has vowed to “earn and win” the nomination at the Democratic National Convention, which starts in Chicago on August 19. It is unclear if anyone will challenge Harris for the nomination, or whom she might choose as a running mate.
Mark Baldassare, survey director for the Public Policy Institute of California, noted Harris previously served as a U.S. Senator from California, Attorney General of the Golden State, and District Attorney for San Francisco.
“This is somebody who has a long history of public service at the local, state and national levels,” Baldassare emphasized. “And of course, spent three years as the vice president, which is very relevant (to) somebody who would step into the Oval Office and become president.”
Harris is a strong supporter of abortion rights, voting rights, social justice and environmental causes.
