Kamala Harris pulls forward as top Democratic 2020 contender, polls suggest

The California senator has caught enough attention in her first month on the campaign trail to make her a frontrunner in the widening field of Democrats seeking the White House


 

As the race toward the 2020 presidency heats up, Sen. Kamala Harris has pulled forward as a frontrunner, according to recent polls, Newsweek reports.

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The California Democrat is leading the way among other Democratic presidential hopefuls who have announced their intent to run, recent polls from Monmouth University and Emerson College suggest.

However, Harris, who describes herself as a “progressive prosecutor,” is still behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, according to the poll.

Harris is running on a strong platform that has kept her at the top spot on CNN’s Democratic power rankings for some time.

Her current platform includes supporting Medicare for all, billions in tax credits to low-income renters and programs that can provide low-income families with cash payments of up to $500, marijuana legalization, a $2.8 trillion middle-class tax plan, reforming the cash bail system and much more.  She’s also been strong on curbing maternal death rates, especially among Black women who continue to die at three to four times the rate of white mothers in the U.S. according to the CDC.

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According to The Hill, on Sunday prominent party donors and strategists co-signed the sentiments of the pollsters.

“There’s always been this motto, ‘You have one day to launch and you have to get it right,’ and Kamala crushed it,” said donor Robert Wolf.

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“It’s the day that you have all the media buzz, the grassroots excitement and to tell your story. That is the one day all eyes are on you and she hit out of the ballpark.”

Democratic strategist Maria Cardona added: “She differentiates herself with her impeccable timing.”

“She was already the favorite of many, and her early success has solidified and grown that support,” Jon Vein, a major Democratic donor, told the website.

Recently, Harris was challenged for ‘miscommunication’ when asked about listening to Tupac and Snoop at HU.

Her comment was sparked after being asked about her position on the legalization of cannabis. Harris clarified that she believes that cannabis should be legalized, with the caveat that is properly researched.

Still, to many she’s “the full package: smart, commercial, organized,” Wolf told The Hill. “I would not be surprised if she was the top fundraiser this quarter and viewed as a top 3 candidate.”

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