Harris faces major challenge with greatest speech of career

Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisSusan Rice: Trump ‘is a liar and the whole world knows it’ Biden compares relationship with Harris with one with Obama: We trust each other Five takeaways from final First Chamber Intel Russia report MORE comes a major challenge this week at the Democratic convention to persuade parts of the party to support a Biden-Harris ticket enthusiast despite a record of crime and justice that many associate with mass imprisonment and racial inequality .

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

The nod was also warmly welcomed by large sections of the Democratic Party, including the leading progressive presidential candidate, Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenNYT security guard who went viral to interact with Biden will play prominent role at convention: Report Overnight Defense: Trump Rejects Big Cut on Military Health Care | First Chamber report says Russia’s contacts of Trump campaign ‘serious’ threat suggest Progressive Bowman endorses Markey ahead of primary Massachusetts MORE (D-Mass.) And Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Memo: Democrats pitch Biden as the back-to-normal candidate Obama congratulates Biden on formal nomination Ocasio-Cortez seconds Sanders nomination on convention MORE (I-Vt.).

Yet among the young progressives who have been the most difficult group on the left for Biden to win over, doubts are still to be heard about whether a Biden-Harris ticket will come through.

This is especially true given the fact that Black voters put Biden over the top in the Democratic primary race.

“From a power perspective for Black people, if Black people are going to place Bids in the White House, then we must also demand that our agenda be front and center in the first 100 days of administration,” PAC executive director of Color of Change Arisha Hatch told The Hill.

Data from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape project back in May showed that young Black voters were significantly less on board voting for Biden than older Black voters.

While 91 percent of Black voters 65 and older said they plan to vote for Biden, 68 percent of Black voters 18 to 29 said the same thing.

Robert Griffin, research director of the Democracy Fund’s Voter Study Group, told The Hill that although Biden’s numbers have improved since then, the presumptive Democratic nominee “still shows signs of relatively low support among younger Black Americans.”

“According to data … collected between July 16 and August 12, senior Black registered voters are almost universal in their support for Biden (95 percent),” Griffin wrote in an email. “In contrast, those 45 to 64 (84 percent), 30 to 44 (77 percent) and 18 to 29 (77 percent) are currently less committed.”

Griffin went on to say: “We can certainly see this change as the race kicks in full gear – campaigns generally tend to win back from voting groups already provided for them – but at this point still represent a weakness . “

Harris will begin working to change that dynamic with her Wednesday address at the Virtual Democratic National Convention, in what will easily be the biggest political speech of her career. Her speech offers a prime opportunity to shake the heads of young liberal voters with doubts about Biden.

There are also some doubts among such voters with Harris, a former San Francisco prosecutor and attorney general in California, whose record has sometimes drawn criticism from the left. The New York Times noted in a story earlier this month the criticism Harris received while failing to prosecute police in the Golden State accused of killing people.

Harris has thrown herself into the issue of police reform since ending her presidential campaign late last year and returned to the House of Representatives, sponsoring legislation to end police ties and painting the Black Lives Matter mural in Washington , DC

Uniting the party and winning younger generations of voters for Biden is a major goal at this convention, which is already evident in former First Lady Michelle ObamaMichelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaThe Memo: Democrats pitch Biden as the back-to-normal candidate Stacey Abrams leads chorus in the keynote address of Democrats vs. Democrats. Republicans in the race for ‘streamers’ MOREhis speech Monday night.

‘I know that, regardless of our race, age, religion or politics, if we shut down the noise and the fear and really open our hearts, we know that what is happening in this country is simply not right. This is not who we want to be, “Obama said in a statement.

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

‘You have this. So many people will do everything we can to get you and @JoeBiden elected this fall, ”Obama tweeted to Harris.

Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright expressed confidence that Harris would support Obama’s calls on Monday night by supporting significant change, and warning of what Trump’s four more years would mean.

‘We need to remind people how high the stakes are in these elections. At the end of the day, legislators are not losers, and you can not govern if you do not win, “Seawright told The Hill.

“That is, for all the small problems if it does not agree with people Joe BidenJoe BidenThe Memo: Democrats pitch Biden as the back-to-normal candidate Obama congratulates Biden with formal nomination Jill Biden gives personal portrait of man Joe MOREthe historical running mate, I will remind those people that the differences they have should not even be compared to the differences we have with Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Memo: Democrats pitch Biden as the back-to-normal candidate Obama congratulates Biden with formal nomination Jill Biden gives personal portrait of man Joe MORE Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceTrump apologizes to Susan B. Anthony Kamala Harris will help Biden with Latino voters Biden, Harris loses first joint TV interview to ABC’s Muir, Roberts MEI and the Republican Party agenda, ‘he said.