In North Las Vegas, Vice President Kamala Harris seeks to attract the youth vote

2023-10-13 20:52:24

In the midst of an early presidential re-election race that has tested the unpopular administration of President Joe Biden, this Thursday Vice President Kamala Harris gave a simple message to college students in North Las Vegas: “Elections are important.”

Young voters, he said, played a role in Biden’s arrival at the White House, but, he added, issues such as abortion, gun violence and climate change remain on the ballot in 2024.

“You are the generation that has only known the climate crisis,” Harris said. “You are a generation that saw George Floyd murdered. They are a generation that… will have fewer rights than their mothers or grandmothers.”

Harris’ visit to the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) was part of a nationwide “Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour” aimed at young voters and focused on swing states in terms of a party preference, such as Nevada, Arizona and Georgia.

Those visits have also targeted predominantly African American and Hispanic public institutions.

In the midst of “an intentional and total attack against so many hard-won freedoms and fundamental rights, I also want to remind you that it does not have to be this way,” said the vice president.

But Biden’s approval rating among young voters has remained in flux, especially over the past year. A YouGov poll found that support peaked among respondents under 30 in May at 65 percent before falling to 45 percent in September.

Voters have also been divided over a likely rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

Initial polls show that both are within the margin of error, since among Democrats internal concerns increased about the age of the president. That includes a Nevada poll released this week by CNN/SSRS that found Biden leading Trump by 46 to 45 percent.

Harris’ message also included indirect criticism of Republicans. The vice president condemned the “powerful forces” that hinder people from voting, including attempts to restrict early and absentee voting in other states.

Harris criticized Republicans, without even naming the party, over gun violence, abortion and LGBTQ+ issues.

The official also promoted the federal government’s investment in climate initiatives and criticized efforts to affect diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

But Harris’ visit also came as the Biden administration faces challenges in its efforts to ease the cost of college for students with student debt.

In June, the Supreme Court rejection a broad plan of canceling student debt, which led the White House to continue a federal regulatory process that would allow the secretary of education to cancel certain student loans.

Meanwhile, a yearlong pause on student loan repayments put in place by the pandemic is in place. scheduled to end this monthand interest is already accruing on those loans starting in September.

Harris praised the Biden administration’s efforts to forgive student debt for low-income Pell Grant recipients, but acknowledged that “we still have more to do in that regard.”