Her elevation to the post of the American vice president after the 2020 presidential election was quite a news but if latest polls are to be believed, a majority of people from California are not enthusiastic about Kamala Harris running for the top post in the 2024 polls despite the fact that she hails from the Golden State.
The 58-year-old Harris, whose mother was an Indian, is being positioned as the heir to president Joe Biden but she has not found enough popularity among Democrats across the US amid approval ratings from the public, The Telegraph reported.
Even in California, Harris's home state and a Democratic bastion, the prospect of her stepping into Biden's shoes to become the first woman president of the country looks bleak.
Between February 14 and 20, a poll conducted by the Berkeley Institute of Government Studies and The Los Angeles Times asked 7,512 registered voters about how they would feel about Harris running for president if Biden, who turned 80 last November, decided against running for a second term.
It was found that 59 per cent of the respondents were hesitant about Harris seeking the presidential office. While 18 per cent said they were "not too enthusiastic" about the idea, 41 per cent were "not enthusiastic at all".
As against that, only 16 per cent were "very enthusiastic" about Harris, a former attorney general and senator from California, getting the ticket for the top post. Twenty-one per cent said they would be "somewhat enthusiastic" while four per cent gave no opinion.
When broken down party-wise, however, Harris had a reason to smile. Among Democratic voters, 56 per cent said they would be enthusiastic about her candidature. But when narrowed down to California, 40 per cent of Democrats in the state did not want to see her run for the president's post.
According to The Telegraph report, Democratic officials have privately expressed their worry that Harris could prove to be a liability for the Democratic party, citing her limitations as a communicator.
Harris will be an integral part of the campaign as the running mate for Biden if the ageing leader runs for a second term.
When asked about the concerns in the Democratic party, she told NBC News recently that she intends to run as the vice president just as Biden eyes a second term.
Biden's own approval rating in California improved as he holds 57 per cent approval and 39 per cent disapproval. However, 57 per cent of the voters of the state still want him to step aside in 2024.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)