OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Vice President Kamala Harris is hitting the campaign trail as President Joe Biden is sinking in the polls heading into the November election.
Just one week after Super Tuesday, Harris returned home to San Francisco to participate in two campaign events in her former political stronghold.
Harris returned to the Bay Area to convey a message about the issues that will be on the November ballot, as the general election rapidly approaches a contentious 2020 rematch between Biden and Trump.
Harris presented the election as a choice between freedom and dictatorship, denying climate change or generating jobs through the green energy economy, and defending reproductive rights against depriving women of their bodily autonomy at two private fundraising events.
“This is literally about our democracy,” Harris told a crowd of roughly 100 people.
“As a role model, people watch what you do, to see if it lines up with what you say,” the vice president said. “So the world is watching this election, not to mention the profound stakes that the American people have in the outcome of this November.”
Polls show the Biden-Harris campaign faces an uncertain path toward re-election.
Additionally, there is concern among voters from all political parties who would have otherwise supported Biden in 2020. These voters include those who believe he is too old to serve a second term and, particularly, young progressives who are dissatisfied with his support for Israel and opposition to calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.
Harris has struggled to differentiate her leadership in the White House, particularly with a policy portfolio that includes some of the most challenging issues in Washington, such as immigration reform.
“The American people are struggling under the weight of Bidenflation,” California Republican Party Chair Jessica Millan Patterson said in a statement after Biden’s State of the Union address.
“Millions of illegal crossings through our open Southern border have turned every state into a border state. Disastrous foreign policy has weakened our nation on the world stage. Our communities are less safe as crime continues to run rampant. Our children are struggling in failing schools,” Patterson said. “This November, the American people will finally retire Joe Biden and his disastrous record once and for all.”
Things continue to get worse for Biden as his rematch with Trump is just eight months away.
In an exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll, Trump defeated Biden 40% to 38%, drawing a near-tie in a volatile electorate as the candidates get underway.
A sizable portion of voters were dissatisfied with their options and receptive to being convinced, according to the first USA TODAY survey conducted since the two candidates secured their presidential nominations.
Concerns about immigration (24%) and challenges to democracy (23%) trailed closely behind voters’ rankings of inflation and the economy, which accounted for 29% of their vote.
Abortion was the only other topic to reach double digits, coming in at 10%.
Another new survey shows Biden falling further behind Trump on the issues voters care most about this election year.
According to the ABC/Ipsos poll conducted between March 8 and 9, 36 percent of respondents said that they trusted Trump compared to 33 percent who said they trusted Biden, while 30 percent said neither candidate had their trust.
Trump received higher ratings than Biden on all issues except abortion and climate change when respondents were asked about their opinions on the job performance of both presidents.
Trump garnered a 49 percent favorable rating on the economy, contrasting with Biden’s 37 percent.
Regarding inflation, 45 percent approved of Trump, compared to 31 percent for Biden. Regarding crime, Trump was viewed more favorably at 41 percent compared to Biden’s 35 percent.
Similarly, on immigration, the former president received a 45 percent favorable rating, while Biden trailed with 29 percent.
