A number of Democrats just two weeks ago, during the debate over whether President Biden should stay in the presidential race, were questioning whether Vice President Harris could beat former President Trump.

Those Democrats doubting Harris were largely focused on one thing: their nightmare election of 2016, when Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in a race Democrats at the time were confident in winning.

“We went to a dark place and a lot of us thought: Hillary Clinton couldn't win. What makes us believe Kamala can?" one Democratic strategist said.

Those doubts are now mostly in the rearview mirror as Harris has taken the reins from Biden and become the near-certain party nominee.

But out of the gate, Harris is proving to be a different candidate than Clinton.

She’s drawn record-breaking fundraising, and in some ways has stolen the spotlight from Trump, a master of earned media. She’s energized her party and filled arenas.

It’s left many Democrats hopeful that this time, Trump will be defeated and the nation’s highest glass ceiling will be shattered.

“She’s not Hillary,” the strategist said. “That’s not to diminish Hillary in any way whatsoever. She certainly helped pave the way and helped create this moment in many ways. We owe Hillary a lot of gratitude for this.”

Harris relies........

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