Will Kamala Harris’ defense of the right to abortion weigh on the presidential election?

Photo: Kevin Dietsch Getty Images via Agence France-Presse Kamala Harris, during a speech in Maryland on the second anniversary of the overturning of the “Roe v. Wade », on June 24

Issam Ahmed – Agence France-Presse in Washington

Published at 10:00

• United States

Even before President Biden’s withdrawal opened the door to the White House race, US Vice President Kamala Harris established herself as a staunch defender of abortion rights, a position that could now prove decisive next November.

“We will put an end to Donald Trump’s extremism to ban abortion because we know that women should make the decisions they want about their bodies, without the government having a say!” the now possible Democratic Party candidate said at a campaign rally earlier this week.

Two years after the conservative majority on the Supreme Court, resulting from the former Republican president's recent appointments, ended federal protections for abortion rights, the candidacy of a sincere activist for the cause could mobilize progressive voters in favor of the Democrats, enough to make the difference in an election that promises to be undecided.

A fight that is not new for Ms. Harris: then a member of the California attorney general's office, she had fought the deceptive practices of anti-abortion activists. And as a senator, she had been very critical of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, during his confirmation hearing before his nomination to the Supreme Court.

Enough to stand out from Joe Biden, who has always been cautious on the subject, regularly recalling his Catholic education to justify his discomfort on the subject.

In his State of the Union address to Congress earlier this year, Biden departed from his notes, preferring the terms “reproductive rights” or “freedom of choice” rather than “abortion.”

Read also

• Democrats Blame Trump Two Years After Overturning “Roe v. Wade”
• Analysis | Why an Anti-Abortion Group Backs Trump Without Officially Endorsing Him
• Restrictions Have Increased Since Roe v. Wade’s Death, Abortions Have Too
• Support for Legalizing Abortion Has Risen Among Americans

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“She Knows What She’s Talking About”

When he entered the Senate in 1973, Joe Biden considered that the Supreme Court had “gone too far” in ruling in favor of federal protection of the right to abortion, in the famous “Roe v. Wade” decision, and he still described the medical procedure as “always a tragedy” and “not necessarily a choice and a right” in 2006.

While his position has evolved since then, abortion advocates have always considered the American president to be reluctant to fully embrace their cause.

“What makes Ms. Harris dangerous for Donald Trump on the issue of abortion is that, unlike him, she knows what she is talking about and she can channel the anger of voters,” said feminist author Jessica Valenti, interviewed by AFP.

“I don’t think people clearly understand how angry women were when Roe was overturned. And Harris has the opportunity to capitalize on that,” she added.

On the specific issue of abortion, Harris has a 12-point lead over Trump, according to a YouGov poll conducted earlier this week, a much larger margin than the 5-point margin Biden had in early July.

Although Harris has not yet been formally nominated, the pro-abortion group Reproductive Freedom for All has fully committed to her, saying in a statement, through its leader Mini Timmaraju, that “no one has fought harder to secure abortion rights and access” than Harris, “and we are proud to support her.”

“Grace period”

On the Republican side, J.D. Vance, the vice presidential candidate, has clearly stated his desire to “nationally ban” abortion, whereas Donald Trump is trying to please both parties.

“He’s a radical, he personifies Republican extremism on abortion,” says Ms. Valenti.

“Having Mr. Vance on his side will complicate things for Donald Trump if he wants to present himself as a moderate on the subject,” said Marc Trussler, a political science researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.

According to him, “Ms. Harris’ message is clearly getting through better” than Joe Biden’s.

However, it’s too early to know whether the The issue, which has delivered local victories to Democrats, could weigh on the election, Trussler said.

“We are in the grace period of Ms. Harris' candidacy,” he stressed, recalling that she has not yet had to position herself on divisive issues within her own party, such as the conflict in Gaza or reform of the American penal system.