Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki praised Vice President Kamala Harris, describing her as an “undervalued talent” and a “fierce communicator,” especially on hot-button issues like abortion rights. However, Psaki’s comments have caused a storm of criticism from those who saw her remarks as out of touch with the reality of Harris’s performance and public perception.

“Kamala Harris, the vice president, I’m going to call her president now… in my view, an undervalued talent,” Psaki said. “She’s a very fierce communicator. She’s very strong, especially on one of the core issues that made the election maybe won or lost on, which is abortion rights.”

The high praise comes despite widespread concerns about Harris’s effectiveness and visibility on major policy issues. “This is why I think when she did a couple of interviews after the debate, I was sitting on the set with a bunch of other MSNBC anchors and we were like, everyone’s like, that was great. It’s like, yeah, that’s what she’s doing out in the country and nobody is really tracking it. It’s just, that’s who she is.”

“We live in a country that is sexist and racist. So like, there is that. There is a level of it that does impact elections,” Psaki claimed.

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Harris, however, has struggled to articulate clear stances on critical issues and the administration’s intentions.  Amidst these discussions, the strategic challenges facing the Democratic Party cannot be ignored. With President Joe Biden’s potential departure from the 2024 presidential race still uncertain, Harris’s role and public image become even more critical. The Democratic Party now faces a delicate balancing act: bolstering the unpopular Harris while also navigating the electoral pitfalls of a struggling party.

Some of Biden’s aides have privately expressed their doubts about Vice President Harris’s electability, according to The New York Times. The undertone of these discussions suggested a lack of confidence in Harris performing any better than Biden.

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