Why have many Democrats embraced Kamala Harris as their presidential nominee, despite not knowing much about what she believes? We spoke to 14 Democrats as part of our latest Times Opinion focus group, and the answer was clear: Most had been deeply anxious about President Biden, and once he bowed out of the race, they needed a nominee fast. Some of the more liberal or younger participants in the group wondered if Harris is too harsh on criminal justice or on migrants crossing the border. Others don’t know what she would do about the economy — a top concern of theirs — or much else about her. For all that, most of our 14 participants felt more hopeful about Harris than Biden, whose age and inarticulateness left some thinking they would not vote this year.

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Persons: Kamala Harris, Biden, Harris, inarticulateness, ” Locations: Harris