With Biden gone, Democrats rally around the worst possible candidate
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
It wasn't really a surprise that President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he will no longer be a candidate for a second term. After all, Biden was under crushing pressure from some of the most powerful forces in the Democratic Party: congressional leaders, fundraisers, former President Barack Obama, and especially former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). In the time-honored Washington way, once Biden relented and stepped aside, people who just hours earlier had their boot on his neck raced to express their heartfelt respect and admiration for his judgment, selflessness, and patriotism.
What was a surprise was the speed with which the party apparatus ran to embrace Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee for president of the United States. Before Biden's decision, there was a lot of talk about possible replacements at the top of the ticket — not just Harris but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA), and others. But once Biden withdrew, there was a stampede to Harris. By Sunday evening, a majority of House Democrats, a majority of Senate Democrats, a majority of Democratic governors, and all of the state party chairs had committed to support Harris. No, the top names pushing Biden out, most notably Obama, did not join in. But by Monday morning, Harris was well on her way to securing the Democratic nomination.
That is consistent with what this newsletter has said all along — that it would be very unlikely that Democrats, obsessed with identity, especially with race and gender, would dump the first woman vice president of color in favor of someone else who polls better. So in that way, the move to Harris makes perfect sense. But viewed another way, the race to crown Harris makes less sense because she is a provably terrible candidate, possibly the worst candidate Democrats could field in their situation.
In case you've forgotten, Harris ran for president in the 2020 Democratic primaries. It started well and ended badly.
She chose Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 21, 2019, to make her announcement. By early March, she had climbed to third place in the 20-plus candidate field, with 12% support, behind only Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Biden, according to a CNN poll. By late April, using the CNN poll throughout, she had slipped to sixth place, with 5% support, behind Biden, Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Pete Buttigieg, and Beto O'Rourke. By late May, she had improved a bit, with 8%. By late June, though, she had shot up to 17% support, behind only Biden. But by mid-August, she crashed, from 17% down to 5%, behind Biden, Sanders, Warren, and Buttigieg. By October, she was stuck in place, at 6%. By November, she slipped further to 3%, well behind where she started 10 months earlier. By the time the next poll was taken, in December, she was out of money, out of support, and out of the race. She announced her withdrawal on Dec. 3, 2019, two months before the Iowa caucuses.
There's a reason Harris rose in the race and a reason she fell. The short version is that for Democratic voters, Harris seemed appealing when she started her campaign and then they liked her less and less as they got to know her. Familiarity with the candidate killed her hopes.
Her high point led to her low point. In a June 27 debate, Harris attacked Biden for Biden's support of mandatory school busing nearly 50 years earlier, in the early 1970s. "There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day," Harris said to Biden. "That little girl was me."
I covered a Harris rally at her peak — actually, probably at the moment she began to fall — in early July in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was well attended, with more than 1,000 people showing up at midday on a Monday. A lot of people thought she was smart and appealing, and even at that time, they thought that Biden did not have the strength and fitness to serve as president for four years, let alone eight. Some of them were uncomfortable with the way Harris used race to attack Biden in the debate. Still, she was well received.
Nationally, the debate shot Harris into the top ranks of the field in terms of the attention paid to her. What voters saw afterward, though, was a candidate who had few ideas, who rambled, sometimes semi-coherently, when speaking, and who was not the centrist many Democrats were seeking.
For example, at her peak, Harris, who was then a Democratic senator from California and who earlier, as state attorney general, focused on "environmental justice," announced she would file a bill expanding the progressive idea of "justice" to virtually every aspect of American life. "Environmental justice is interconnected with every aspect of our fight for justice," she said in a statement to the left-wing publicationGrist. "From racial justice and economic justice, to housing justice and educational justice, we cannot disentangle the environment people live in from the lives they live." Referring to the riots taking place across the country, she added, "These crises we are experiencing have exposed injustices in our nation that many of us have known and fought our entire lives."
It's not entirely clear what that meant, but it is clear that to nonprogressive ears, it didn't sound good. And in other areas, as an MSNBC commentator noted Monday, beyond attacking Donald Trump, Harris in 2020 "struggled to affirmatively say what she stood for." She was, in short, a terrible candidate.
In the summer of 2020, Biden had miraculously won the Democratic nomination. He had boxed himself in by promising to choose a woman for his vice presidential running mate and then further boxed himself in by suggesting it would be a woman of color. Having severely shrunk the talent pool to eliminate all men and all women who were not people of color, Biden chose the woman who had insinuated he was a racist for opposing busing. And Kamala Harris became Vice President Kamala Harris.
Now that Biden's infirmities have finally caught up with him, Harris appears to have the inside track to the Democratic presidential nomination. The Trump campaign should take her seriously, not because she is a good candidate but because she will automatically have the vote of the millions of people who would vote for anyone other than Trump. That alone means she could win. So her GOP rivals should see the Harris campaign, rich with money raised by Biden, as a formidable opponent. But at the same time, it should be noted — and Harris herself will likely make it clear soon enough — that she is perhaps the worst candidate Democrats could choose to run for president.
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Almost this entire article is about Harris' failed 2020 presidential campaign . This is 2024.
If you want to lose in Nov keep up these nonsensical attacks.
Harris was very good in her first campaign speech today.
Except Biden - Harris whooped Trump in 2020!
In what bassackwards world is winning a loss?
Exactly, Joe could never had done it without her.
The factor that Harris has now that she did not have even a hint of in the 2020 primary campaign is momentum.
Momentum is arguable the most important factor in a campaign.
Look no further than the Trump phenomenon for evidence of this.
It's not momentum yet, it's desperation.
Spin spin spin
Having delegates, party members, and donations head one's way is momentum. The next factor will be the polls and even before Biden withdrew, Harris was polling okay. Once she is seen as the like D nominee, the polls will be more accurate. If her position improves, that then adds to the momentum.
I would say that denying every good sign for the Ds is a reflection of desperation by Trump supporters.
Most of the attacks I am seeing on Harris have to do with her dropping out early in 2020. But things and people change and grow. That is life. They learn from their mistakes.
I saw her speech today and it was pretty darn good.
Great , if you compare her to Trump.
It's even more impressive when primary voters are involved. Okay, and I would say that denying the situation that the Ds put themselves in is a reflection of desperation by Ds.
Oh just wait. They will bring back the 'ho' allegations and try to claim that all of her accomplishments were a result of sleeping her way to the top. They have already tried the word salad ploy and that will make them look ridiculous when one compares her articulation with that of Trump.
I am not at all concerned about her ability to communicate. She will be on point, positive, and understandable. Trump will continue to meander and engage in negativity. He cannot help himself.
Reality pretty much dictates that the Ds cannot hold a primary. Too bad. I wish Biden would have stepped aside much sooner. But the Ds must deal with reality so they will be plotting a historically new course out of necessity.
I do not expect this to be a big deal for the Ds. It will be a big deal for Trump supporters but they do not count.
The Evil Among Us, Aka Far Right Loons - John Russell | The NewsTalkers
she did not have even a hint of in the 2020 primary campaign is momentum.
I don't think that's it.
Most of the primary candidates achieved fleeting ‘momentum‘ at some point in the campaign. That is normal.
I was using the term to refer to the snowball effect. My reference to Trump was a reference to that effect.
Right now Harris looks to be on the cusp of serious momentum that will snowball into the nomination and beyond.
Has Harris ever polled better than she does right now?
I would expect this to be the best thus far and that it will rise higher.
I would agree.
As you said, we shall see TiG.
"..and that it will rise higher."
As someone else has said previously, opinions do very. Plus, nothing is written in stone so anything is possible.
Because she was reading what someone else wrote FFS JR wake the hell up
A pathetic spin. No matter what Harris does, I predict that Trump supporters will deliver some feeble spin rather than objectively deal with reality.
Does that mean she's crooked too?....
Mmmm, don't think much spin is needed in relation to Harris... fairly sure there's just as many memes of her "capabilities" as there are for AOC.
Depends on whether someone is living in a partisan fantasy or objectively dealing with reality.
Exactly...
NBC News says Kamala Harris already has enough pledged delegates to win the nomination.
Maybe next cycle you'll get to vote in an actual contested Democratic primary. It'll only be 20 years since the Party let their voters choose the nominee at that point.
Damn, that is lightning speed.
The Ds apparently can get their shit together. Hopefully this trend continues.
Endorsed by Joe Biden after his decision to leave the race , Harris quickly locked up the support of her party’s donors, elected officials and other leaders. No other candidate was named by a delegate in the survey and Harris now appears to have the backing of more than the 1,976 delegates she’ll need to claim the nomination.
She has 2668 delegates with 54 undecided.
That IS the reality of it. Surely you HAVE to know that....................
I have observed that virtually every Trump supporter is attacking Harris with feeble nonsense.
She delivered a normal, articulate speech. Just like any other normal candidate in our history. It was upbeat, had ad-libs, made strategic points for the future, and made razor sharp attacks on Trump.
Yet you incorrectly claim that 'she was reading what someone else wrote '. Not only do you not know how much of her speech she wrote (if any), but you are flat wrong on the claim that all she did was read. Clearly you did not watch the delivery. And regarding your assumption on who wrote her speech, a prosecuting attorney is well-capable of preparing speeches.
Some of it was just her, after that, it was teleprompter time.
Glancing to her right and then left. Watch after the 1:20 mark.
Yes, Jim, politicians use teleprompters. It is a smart move.
Do you understand that Trump uses teleprompters too? Did you watch the GOP convention? Anyone use teleprompters there? How shocking!
Please continue to attack Harris because she wisely avails herself of modern technology for speeches. And then totally disregard that Trump uses them too.
Not disregarding anything. I said she read it, you claimed she didn't have to.
For some "normal" is a pejorative.
Where did I make that claim?
Scripted and telepromptered boilerplate.
First of all, you are wrong. It was obviously NOT purely scripted.
Second, do you have a problem with a politician preparing for a speech and then delivering it properly without meandering all over the place ... talking about Hannibal Lector and sharks?
Political speeches ARE scripted and teleprompted. That is how it is done.
With Trump, when he goes off script it is known as a lunatic rant.
Democrats have spent the last 24 hours telling their opponents how not to attack her. Lol. I'm sure it's in good faith.
That is ridicule of the feeble attacks thus far.
Yes, we'll have to wait a little bit for the articles about her failed 2024 campaign...
Harris said: “I will proudly put my record against Donald Trump’s.”
Does anyone know what is her record?
Does she mean border czar?
Hakeem Jeffries claims Kamala Harris represents "change versus the status quo."
Hasn't she been part of the Biden administration for almost 4 years?
She was referring to her career as a prosecutor, DA, AG, Senator and VP.
The border is her Achilles heel. Trump has many problems both in terms of policy (e.g. abortion, environment) and character (obvious).
"Are you aware of the perception of many about how the power and the discretion at ICE is being used to enforce the laws and do you see any parallels [with the KKK]?"
— Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.
Kamala Harris compares ICE to KKK, gets slammed for 'disgusting,' 'horrifying' remarks | Fox News
That's how radical she is!
Is it your position that a VP will simply do exactly what their predecessor and prior boss did?
She was comparing her record as DA, AG, Senator and VP to that of a President???
Lol.
She is a CA progressive. She will continue those policies. The very policies Biden imposed pretending to be a moderate.
Good argument, Vic.
She might. And if she does, you can blame your party for nominating a scoundrel rather than a decent human being who would support the policies you prefer.
The Minnesota Freedom Fund, a previously little-known organization that tax forms show raised a staggering $41 million in 2020, was notably promoted in June of that year by then-Sen. Harris, who posted on social media, "If you’re able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota." Formed in 2016, the MFF "has paid more than $26 million to free 3,000+ people from pre-trial jailing and immigration detention" and "pays criminal bail and immigration bonds for those who cannot otherwise afford to as we seek to end discriminatory, coercive, and oppressive jailing," according to MFF's website.
Kamala Harris-backed bail fund that freed violent criminals back in spotlight (msn.com)
She did that as vice president.
That is how radical she is.
Far better than anything you put up.
Biden did and then some............................
The Dems seem to think that everyone in their party will fall in line like mindless sheep to support this DEI hire hag. I predict that she will follow Joe out the door after the convention or even before. Noticed that neither Biden nor Harris were there to greet Netanyahu, and don't plan on attending his address to Congress this week.
Should we interpret this to mean that you will never offer a single positive word about Harris?
She hasn't done anything worth complementing her on. So my answer would be....probably not.
Have you ever or would you now offer a single positive word about Trump?
You give me the worst GOP nominee in US history and I am supposed to find something positive to say about him? I can make all sorts of positive statements about GOP politicians and former nominees. That would be a fair test. For Trump, the only positive thing I can find about him are some of his policies. Other than that, he is an example of a human being with no redeeming qualities that I can detect.
So help me out. What are Trump's good qualities?
Apparently, she is very good at weeding out poor performing staff regardless of what position she is in.
You act like any meat bag with a D stamped on it is the best nominee in the history of the party.
Your reading of my words is flat out bizarre.
This is very easy to understand. It is my position that Trump is horrible for the nation. He is, IMO, the worst nominee by a major party in our history. Trump is absolutely unacceptable.
Now, take that and add this.
We effectively have a two party system. So either the R or the D will win the presidency. Given the Rs have nominated Trump that leaves the Ds. It does not take much for the Ds to produce a candidate who is vastly superior to Trump.
Then we need someone like Harris at Department of Defense!
You don't think that Joe's Black man here is effective?
They will. It's independents that probably won't. Poll from last week has Trump up double digits among independents against her. Democrats did Trump a favor by sticking with the tie to Biden. Biden's failed Presidency is what propelled him to a lead.
An outsider (governor) would have been a much more serious threat.
Not in this Democrat party...
I can't see any evidence that this isn't exactly what will happen.
Kamala demands staff performance or their out;
”Vice President Kamala Harris’s office has had a turnover rate higher than 90% over the past four years, according to a watchdog report published Monday.”
“Open the Books, a watchdog organization that reports on government spending, found that 91.5% of her staff has left since she was sworn in.”
” Twenty-four of the employees from April 2023 to this past March departed, the watchdog said. Of the 47 staffers that started with Harris, only four have reportedly stayed with her.”
You have to wonder how many asses were clenched when she addressed the campaign staff....
I suspect they were relieved and somewhat thrilled to have a chance for a positive campaign rather than fire-fighting in an uphill battle.
Her staff don’t seem to stick around when she was a State AG, US Senator or VP.
She’s carries a torch to light the darkness;
Chaos reigns on the vice president’s staff. And Harris tried to hide it by claiming that her office is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
https://openthebooks.substack.com/p/vp-kamala-harris-had-92-percent-staff?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=775254&post_id=146655885&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=67wdm&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
We shall see Greg. Right now, I think team Trump is the organization that is most concerned about their future.
That will draw more foreigners
No, just more illegals.
Somethings Democrats really, really, really, desire.
Democrats ran their worst candidate in 2016. (As a far afield aside, Bill and Hillary stood with Biden while the rest of the Democrat leadership was throwing Biden under the bus. The Democratic Party is no longer the party of Clinton.)
To be realistic Democrats only have 10 days to unify the party around a replacement candidate and choose a VP to complete the ticket. Kamala Harris has to be the candidate, by default, because Joe Biden created another crisis and boxed in Democrats. There isn't any time for a beauty pageant.
The question to be answered about Kamala Harris is whether or not she is a serious candidate. For a long time (since Roe v. Wade?) Democrats have been stacking the circuit courts with activist judges who were friendly towards liberals. After politicizing the courts, Democrats began placing activist prosecutors. Kamala Harris was one among the cadre of Democrat approved activist prosecutors.
But an activist doesn't fare well as a Presidential candidate. We've seen that with George McGovern, Ralph Nader, Ron Paul, Jerry Brown, and, even, Bernie Sanders. Activists can garner intense loyalty from a specific demographic but fail to obtain sufficiently broad support to be considered a serious candidate.
I heard some say that when Harris was picked it was to keep Biden for being removed because she was worse than him
I can't understand why anyone would say this after the job she did securing our southern border. (s)
Seriously. Who would you prefer to be the face and voice of our nation: Trump or Harris?
The obvious choice would of course be Trump. Harris would give us four more years of radical left terrorism and destroying our representative republic. She's far to the left of the supposedly centrist Biden. She cannot separate herself from Biden's awful record of failures.
Don't Overthink It, Republicans. The Case Against Kamala Harris Is Straightforward. (townhall.com)
Trump