American gen Z voters share how they feel about Kamala Harris’s presidential bid, why they like or dislike her as a candidate and whether they think she could beat Donald Trump, as the vice-president races towards winning the Democratic nomination for November’s election.

‘I think she’s just what we need’

“I think [Kamala Harris] is the only one that makes sense. She will get the votes Biden couldn’t. She could get the Black, Asian, Latino, women’s, LGBTQ+ and youth votes. She stands more for progress and equality than an old white dude and if she wins it will be historic. The Democrats need a bold move and I think she’s just what we need.

“I hope the Democrats realize what an opportunity this is for them.” Will, 22, construction worker from Portland, Oregon

  • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    And then Democrats convinced Biden to not run for a second term. Sounds like the party did in fact listen to the voters’ will, and that’s being reflected in the excitement that we’re seeing across the board.

    And you know what? I wish Republicans made backroom deals. I wish they recognized Trump was a significant threat and aligned to go against him.

    • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Yeah, but the Democrats also propped Biden up through the primary and kept any real challengers from entering the race, then only abandoned him once it became clear that he had no chance of winning. It shouldn’t take the President displaying signs of cognitive decline on national television to get the party to listen to its own voters.

      And while I agree that it would be better if the Republicans hadn’t enabled Trump, I don’t think cutting back-room deals to give their preferred candidate the nomination would be better than just not supporting him. GOP politicians were happy to denounce Trump before the primary, and they could have held their ground afterwards. The options don’t have to be, “fall in line,” or, “rig the primaries.”

      • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        I think a lot of Democrats were actually unaware of how bad Biden was, even within the party apparatus. It sounded like his close advisors were seriously sheltering him.

        Just goes to show that you need advisors and friends who aren’t just going to blindly support and defend you, but will also call you out on your shit

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      And then Democrats convinced Biden to not run for a second term.

      The polls, plus stingy donors, convinced Biden not to run.

      Of course, Lemmy-ites will insist that polls don’t matter and you can just scream at people to vote if you’re at a fund raising disadvantage when you need to close the gap.

      I wish Republicans made backroom deals. I wish they recognized Trump was a significant threat and aligned to go against him.

      When Republicans make backroom deals, you get a 5-4 SCOTUS majority halting the recount process in Florida.

      We’re somewhat lucky that Trump was on such shit terms with Doug Ducey and Brian Kemp in 2020.