Eye on the Street: 2024 Election
By Toni-Elena Gallo
With President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection campaign, major players in the Democratic Party, including the president, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 Democratic presumptive presidential candidate.
As a result, TBR News Media had a question for locals: “How will this change impact the race to the presidency?”
— Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo
Kaylee and Emily, Ronkonkoma
Both girls expressed shock, but excitement, at the decision.
“I couldn’t believe it, I just found out,” Emily said.
Kaylee thinks that Harris’ presidential bid has given hesitant voters an “opportunity” to vote for a candidate possibly more competent than Biden, and more competent and likable than former President Donald Trump (R).
“Kamala running has made this election more competitive and serious than before,” she added.
Kaylee also voiced that she thinks Harris will “surprise people” during the upcoming debates with her intelligence.
Vic and Sheila Meneghini, Ronkonkoma
Grandparents to Smithtown school district students, Vic and Sheila Meneghini expressed the opinion that if “Kamala stays the nominee, there won’t be much of a difference [in voter choice] because of her alignment with Biden.”
They think that more women may vote, as Harris has the chance to be our first woman president.
The couple, additionally, shared that voting for Harris will probably be more enticing than voting for Biden, if you are a Democrat, which will affect some change, regarding voting turnout.
Vic, however, doesn’t think there’ll be much movement in voting, “as people have already made up their minds” if they are going to vote Democrat or Republican.
Vic and Sheila declined for their picture to be taken or other personal information to be included.
Eric and Cole, Massachusetts and New Hampshire
Eric, a Stony Brook University visitor, is “glad someone [who is of advancing years] isn’t going to be in office anymore. But, I don’t really have a big political view.”
As someone in his 20s, he would appreciate younger presidential options.
In addition, Eric feels people are likely to vote for the wrong or shallow reasons — because they view the election as a popularity contest, don’t like the candidates as people, and vice versa.
He wants to see people focus “on the issues,” as he is a “middle-class guy” who wants to live a decent and prosperous life.
Neither candidate “is doing anything to help me, right now,” he said.
Cole echoed his friend Eric’s sentiments, saying, “It is interesting to have a different face, who is not as old, and will stir the pot a little bit. But whatever these candidates do is not really going to affect my day-to-day life much at the end of the day.”
David, Long Island
David thinks that this change will encourage “more women and people of color to vote.”
Also, he expressed that making Harris the Democratic nominee “will give the [party] a better chance of beating Trump,” but he does not foresee any major developments coming in the wake of Biden’s decision.
David declined for his picture to be taken or other personal information to be included.
