What's next for Kamala Harris: another stab at being president?

With Donald Trump’s election victory, the Democratic party feels as though it has been relegated to history and Kamala Harris along with it, but what does the future hold for the outgoing Vice President now?

Most also-rans in the presidential race do not make a second bid for the White House but, given that Harris’ sprint to election day was brief, perhaps, in her case, another shot is in order.

As Trump appears to have tossed aside the rule book in that respect, others believe that Harris should follow suit.

Harris ally Donna Brazile told The Washington Post, “There are no rule books. Everybody can color outside the lines.”

Though Harris’ was forced to face up to a resounding defeat on November 5, some argue that the odds were against her.

For instance, she jumped aboard just as President Joe Biden had lost all possible credibility fumbling through a candidates’ debate and, as a middle-aged woman of color, she inherited a campaign designed for an ageing white man.

To her credit, Harris emerged from the fight more popular than when she entered the ring in July, according to the political website 538.

During her campaign, Harris demonstrated a fighting spirit which is still with her, even after losing all seven swing states plus the electoral college vote and the popular vote.

“Our spirit is not defeated. We are not defeated ... We are strong, we are clear about why we are in this,” Harris told guests of the Democratic National Committee mid-December in an event co-hosted with President Joe Biden to thank donors, Reuters reports.

“We cannot let any circumstance or situation or individual ever take away our power ... we know what we stand for, and that’s why we know what to fight for,” she added.

The Democratic party is, however, still reeling after losing to Trump and, inevitably, blame is being apportioned.

But Harris appears to be escaping the worst of the blame blizzard. In fact, many in the party believe that she ran a laudable campaign given the circumstances.

Biden has not been so lucky. “It’s almost Shakespearean that Joe Biden didn’t just kill his own campaign, he killed hers, too,” a Harris campaign adviser said in The Washington Post.

Still, Harris has remained below the radar in the wake of the devastating election result, and appears to be taking her time to decide on her next move.

But there are rumblings. According to Reuters, there is talk of Harris running for governor of California, her home state, in 2026.

If she did that, it would mean she would forfeit the chance to try to become the Democrats' presidential nominee for 2028, according to Harris advisors consulted by CNN.

Would she fare better a second time round? “She is ending this race in a very different place than other nominees that have lost,” one Harris adviser told The Washington Post.

“Her approval is higher. People were very happy with the race that she ran. Do the same rules apply as previous nominees that have lost? Nobody knows.”

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