Vice President Kamala Harris, known for her steady rise through Democratic politics, faces challenges as she seeks to solidify her political standing and position herself as a potential candidate for the 2024 presidential race. Despite her built-in advantages, including her diverse background and prominent political roles, Harris has encountered setbacks and low visibility, which she needs to address moving forward.

Harris, the first Black and Indian American woman in national office, has had a remarkable political trajectory, from elected district attorney of San Francisco to California attorney general, U.S. senator, and ultimately vice president. However, her 2020 presidential primary campaign faltered due to staff infighting and a perceived lack of core ideological convictions, particularly on key progressive issues like universal healthcare.

Selected as Joe Biden's running mate, Harris experienced a resurgence in her political career during the 2020 election. However, as vice president, she faced high staff turnover and had to contend for influence with Biden's long-standing aides, some of whom were initially skeptical of her due to her past criticism of Biden. Additionally, Harris faced racial and gender prejudices, further complicating her path.

Some of Harris's early challenges as vice president included her assignment to address migration issues by improving conditions in Central America. However, her handling of the situation, coupled with her avoidance of policy debates and reluctance to personally visit the U.S.-Mexico border, drew criticism from both the left and the right. This initial setback highlighted the limited opportunities vice presidents have to command public attention.

Harris's standing within her party improved in 2022 when she emerged as a leading voice against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the legal right to an abortion. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in Democrats' overperformance in the 2022 midterm elections. Harris also began actively representing Biden on the international stage, particularly in countering Russian aggression in Europe and addressing Chinese influence in Asia.

However, despite these developments, Harris still faces challenges in terms of public perception and support. Focus groups indicate that many voters are unsure of her role and what she does, while polling consistently shows her polling numbers among key constituencies are similar to those of President Biden.

A national poll conducted after the debate in late June revealed that 30% of independents viewed Harris favorably, while 57% viewed her unfavorably, compared to Biden's split of 35% favorable and 62% unfavorable. Among Black and mixed-race voters in battleground states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania, early June polls showed that only 55% to 60% viewed Harris favorably, similar to Biden's numbers. Notably, Biden and Harris received more than 90% support from Black voters in the 2020 election.

Political expert Joel Goldstein noted that Harris faces additional pressure to prove herself as she is expected to potentially step in for President Biden, given his age and her relatively limited government experience compared to other vice presidents. To secure her position as a formidable candidate for the 2024 presidential race, Harris must increase her visibility and address the lack of awareness about her role among voters.

David Paleologos of Suffolk University suggests that while Harris still has room to grow her support, there is a significant gap to overcome, especially in comparison to former President Trump's level of excitement among his supporters.

As Vice President Harris navigates the challenges ahead, it remains to be seen how she will address the concerns and build a strong political foundation to solidify her standing for a potential 2024 presidential bid.