How Kamala Harris could reshape the role of vice president

Kamala Harris, right, in 1982, at an anti-Apartheid protest with her friend Gwen Whitfield

Credit: Kamala Harris campaign/AP

Manny Yekutiel, a Democratic activist from Ms Harris’ native San Francisco, says he experienced her ability to connect with voters first hand while helping her presidential campaign.

He believes that Ms Harris’ motivations for entering into politics centred around her desire to reform the criminal justice system. 

"I don’t think her political ideologies have changed a whole lot over the years," he said. But Ms Harris is also a shrewd political pragmatist, he adds, saying "being flexible is important."

2020 Election

Mark Buell, a major Democrat donor in San Francisco who was among her first major backers and has continued to be a cheerleader ever since, agreed that she would probably "play a more active role by virtue of Joe Biden’s age".

He described her as a "quick study" who is "comfortable in many different environments", and named healthcare, international diplomacy and police reform as areas where she could most excel.

"Our reputation [abroad] has been so sullied by the trump administration that there is a yearning, particularly on the part of Europe, to see better leadership," he said.

Kamala Harris will become America's next vice president if Joe Biden wins the election

Credit: Jeff Chiu/AP Photo

"I harken back to how well Obama was received around the world, and I think it speaks to our better nature that we now have an African-American vice president and a woman vice president."

Mr Buell also argued that her past in law enforcement would make her a more credible negotiator with police forces, police unions and pro-police politicians, though it might prove a weakness with some among the Black Lives Matter movement.

It is possible Ms Harris will take inspiration from Dick Cheney, widely considered the most powerful politician in the role, and who was given broad remit by George W Bush to screen judicial nominees, oversee the government budget and even reshape legislation.

Mr Biden, himself a former Vice President, seems very willing to share the burden of governing with his number two.

He talks fondly of his relationship with Barack Obama, whom he served under for eight years, describing himself as first into the Oval Office and the last to leave it when the tough decisions were called. 

"That’s what I asked Kamala. I asked Kamala to be the last voice in the room," he said.

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