NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Vice President Kamala Harris is making her way to New Orleans where she will participate in a forum as a part of Essence Festival.
Harris’ visit comes as President Joe Biden is campaigning to convince voters that he can still to the job.
Local pundit and sociologist Dr. Silas Lee says Harris will use the appearance as an opportunity to reassure voters that their concerns are being heard.
“It’s that collective energy from this event whereby participants will leave energized, informed and most importantly, carry that energy back to their communities,” explained Lee.
According to Lee, voters are currently distracted by Biden’s poor debate performance, but Harris’ appearance in New Orleans may reassure Democrats.
“Her visit will just reinforce what people already know,” said Essence Festival attendee Justin Brooks, who was visiting from Colorado. “I think that the debate is one night. It was a bad night. I think that I’m more interested in what they do than what they say during that very, very small moment.”
As for the prospect of Biden dropping out of the race and Harris becoming the nominee, some are in favor of it.
“I would definitely support it,” said festival attendee Debra Rhymes, who was visiting from Florida. Her family member, Taderra Rhymes, added, “I think that would be great. We know our president is getting up in age, and so to have her support and for her to step up, that would really make history.”
For now, Lee is putting that theory to rest.
“We have to get off that gossip carousel, and those are conversations that are basically gossip. We’ve heard the President say that he is going to stay in. Until things change, that is the scenario right now.”
Biden and former president Donald Trump have one more scheduled debate in September, which will be hosted by ABC News.
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