Vice President Kamala Harris is in an odd position. One one hand, her candidacy for the presidency of the United States has excited supporters and allies thrilled with the potential “firsts” Harris would hit if she wins: first woman president, first woman president of color.

On the other, she’s running on Joe Biden’s record, notable for being an array of “worsts;” profligate government spending, inflation, his response to inflation, and the border crisis, to name a few.

According to FiveThirtyEight, Biden’s disapproval rating is in the mid-50s. There’s a reason for that. But this is the legacy Harris aims to build on.

In a donation-seeking email twinned with Adam Schiff, Harris wrote:

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve alongside our Commander-in-Chief, my friend, President Joe Biden — one of the finest public servants we will ever know. And I am honored to have his support and endorsement.

“And I am eager to run on the record of what Joe and I have accomplished together. We built our country back after our predecessor left it in shambles — making historic progress in reducing prescription drug costs, upgrading our nation’s infrastructure, fighting climate change, and more. We are stronger today because we took action — together — to invest in America’s future.”

As the Heritage Foundation‘s Stephen Moore points out, inflation is up roughly 20% under Biden. Under Trump, it was up 8%.

Even adjusting for Bidenflation, deficits have been at least 50% higher under Biden than Trump.

The mortgage interest rate was 2.9% when Trump left office. The mortgage interest rate is now roughly 7%.

The higher interest rates and the inflation in rents and housing prices mean that the mortgage payment on a median-value home is now TWICE as high under Biden as under Trump.

That’s the definition of shambles?

Harris has the wind at her back with Democrats and their allies, both in the mainstream media and the deep-pocket Hollywood set. But at some point, someone will ask Harris the meat-and-potatoes questions: What will you do to lower inflation? People can’t afford to buy homes of pay rising rents as wages aren’t keeping pace with prices, what will you do to fix that?

How do you justify the money spent to bolster electric vehicle sales when consumers have shown little interest in buying them? Seeing states like Massachusetts burdened with the high costs of sheltering an caring for migrants, what are your plans for the southern border?

How will you address anti-Semitism across the country? Are you going to support the only democracy in the Middle East, or will you waiver as so many on the left have done? There are five American hostages believed to be alive, still held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Say their names.

A lot has changed since Joe Biden ran for president in 2020 and today. The progressive agenda has pleased only progressives. There are myriad demographics in our country, and most just want to be able to put food on the table and afford a place to live.

“Investing in America’s future” can’t look the same as it did four years ago.

Editorial cartoon by Gary Varvel (Creators Syndicate)