Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to reassert her role in the upcoming presidential election during a global climate summit over the weekend, hoping to mobilize young voters animated by tackling climate change.
Harris directly addressed young leaders in her remarks at the COP28 climate conference Saturday, saying: “As vice president I have had the privilege to meet with young climate leaders from across the United States and around the world. No matter where they come from, these young leaders have something in common. They understand the urgency of this moment. And they fight with conviction, knowing that we still have time to make a difference. So let us all share in their sense of urgency and their optimism.”
It’s a trend that’s taken shape over the course of the last year as the Biden campaign seeks to capitalize on the vice president’s influence among young voters.
Harris’ attendance at COP28, while last minute and heavily focused on the war between Israel and Hamas, is in line with her recent steps to ramp up public messaging on climate and her own experience on the issue dating to her years as district attorney in San Francisco.
Over recent months, Harris has hit the road to elevate the issues the administration is focused on, such as abortion access, gun violence, protecting voting rights and student debt relief.
“We believe her when she tells us that she’s fighting for us, and that’s the appeal of Vice President Harris. She can connect on a personal level with young people who have these interactions,” said Jack Lobel, the national press secretary for Voters of Tomorrow, a youth-led organization focused on mobilizing young voters.
But it remains to be seen whether Harris can motivate those key constituencies to back President Joe Biden in 2024.
Polling nationally and in battleground…
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