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VP Kamala Harris is top of mind as President Biden ‘passes the torch’

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A senior Biden administration official has confirmed to ABC News that President Joe Biden has requested polling data to gauge how Vice President Kamala Harris would fare against former President Trump in a head-to-head matchup if he were to step down as the Democratic presidential nominee.

For Harris, who has a history of breaking barriers and glass ceilings, this challenge could be his toughest yet.

Vice President Kamala Harris was seen with her grandnieces at an ice cream parlor opened by Tyra Banks in Washington, D.C., on Friday afternoon. Harris did not respond to questions from reporters about her message to Democratic voters.

“The contrast between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is night and day,” Harris said Thursday night at a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, advocating for a second term for Biden-Harris.

Despite publicly being “all in” for the Biden-Harris ticket, more than 30 Democrats in Congress are urging President Biden to “pass the torch.” Among the Democratic Party’s rising stars, Harris — an Oakland native who grew up in Berkeley — is a likely candidate to replace Biden if he leaves office.

MORE: What are Bay Area Democratic lawmakers’ stances on Biden’s presidential candidacy?

“At this point, she has the first right to decline or the first right to try to get the Democratic nomination, and I think anyone would withdraw,” said ABC7 News Insider Phil Matier.

Matier said Harris could be at the top of the ticket, which could be the best way for Democrats to avoid chaos at the Democratic National Convention next month. The San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee is advocating for such a change.

“If Biden leaves office, we want Vice President Harris to be the nominee for president. She has the resources, she has the time, she has the experience,” said Bilal Mahmood of the San Francisco Democratic Party.

Local Democrats are prepared to ramp up their campaign if Harris is named the Democratic presidential candidate.

“From San Francisco, the city where she began her political career, we speak from personal experience about the impact she has had on our city,” Mahmood said.

VIDEO: Watch Kamala Harris’ journey from Berkeley to the first Black, Asian woman elected vice president

“Kamala Harris: To Be The First” chronicles her hopeful journey from Berkeley to Washington, where she will soon begin a new chapter as the first Black and Asian woman elected vice president of the United States.

During her nearly four years in the White House, Harris has tackled some of the most divisive issues, from securing the southern border to advocating for women’s reproductive rights. These efforts may be lauded by Democrats and scrutinized by Republicans.

“There’s a good chance she would be more motivating because it would be different,” Matier said. “If Harris is the nominee, there’s only one choice: Is it Trump or not?”

Carole Porter, Harris’ close childhood friend, still has faith in the unity of Biden and Harris.

“Biden-Harris is the ticket. I know Biden wants to go there. I know Kamala wants to go there,” Porter said. “Kamala’s values, her life experiences, her life goals are to help all people.”

The looming question remains whether Biden will step aside, a decision that must be made quickly. The Democratic National Convention is Aug. 19, and just days later Democrats must certify the name that will appear on the November ballot. The deadline for Texas, for example, is just four days after the convention ends.

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