She may be unburdened by what has been, but she's not unburdened by what could be. Former Vice President Kamala Harris officially took her name out of the running for California governor this week, but she's also pivoting to a reboot of her public image and leaving the door open for another White House run. In her statement Harris notably said, "For now, my leadership and public service will not be in elected office." She also said she looks forward to "sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans."
One day after that announcement, Harris revealed plans to release a memoir this fall called "107 Days"---the length of her 2024 presidential campaign. This is seen by political observers as an attempt to reframe her election loss and rebrand her image for a future run. "I think to preserve her political viability in the future, she decided to forego that (California) race, and try to rebuild her reputation and political standing to run again for president in 2028," says Jeff Crouere, political analyst and podcast host. "That's what I think she is planning to do."
Despite her notable baggage and two failed runs for president, Harris still appears to be a viable contender among Democrats for 2028. That may speak more about the current state of the Democratic Party than her own ability, but it means she still has a chance. "I've looked at (Democrat) polls, and Kamala Harris is in the mix with Pete Buttigieg, and AOC, and Gavin Newsom," says Crouere. "So we're not talking about unbeatable people, it's wide open."
"So maybe with a rebranding and a different strategy, she could actually be a formidable candidate in 2028."
Photo: AFP