Progressive Democrats have expressed discontent with Vice President Kamala Harris' decision to collaborate with Liz Cheney in the lead-up to the election, urging Harris to prioritize her Democratic base. Senator Bernie Sanders emphasized that there is a larger potential voter base among working-class individuals for Harris compared to conservative Republicans. Sanders and other progressive leaders, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have reportedly been given less prominent roles in the campaign, while Cheney, an anti-Trump Republican, has been prominently featured alongside Harris.
Sanders stressed the importance of Harris addressing the needs of working-class people and criticized the campaign's focus on Cheney, suggesting that it may not resonate well with the Democratic base. Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, commended the campaign for highlighting economic issues in their advertisements but raised concerns about the disconnect between the campaign's messaging and event strategy.
Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of the progressive group Our Revolution, cautioned that some progressives may not vote for Harris, with a few potentially turning to Trump. Geevarghese emphasized the significance of presenting a strong economic argument to appeal to voters. Sanders was questioned about Harris campaigning with Cheney instead of him, to which he attributed to the public's frustration with Trump's actions undermining democracy.
While Sanders has supported Harris in her campaign, he has not made joint appearances with her on the campaign trail. The progressive movement's concerns highlight the importance of Harris connecting with her base and addressing economic issues to secure their support in the upcoming election.
