Harris’s rise to the top of the ticket awakened an enthusiasm for Democrats not felt since the Obama administration.
Harris speaking at the 2019 California Democratic Party Convention (Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr)
Over the past months, as the country grew increasingly devoid of hope for unity among its political leaders, as turmoil abroad and rumors of economic downturn stoked an unsettling fear within Americans, and the stakes of a Biden or Trump re-election climbed ever higher, Kamala Harris emerged as a meme on internet platforms everywhere.
Her token laugh was edited into songs, her word-salads mocked, and the all too familiar coconut-tree video either made viewers think she was funny or delirious. Vice President Harris even embraced some of the digital fanfare herself, adding the phrase coined by Drew Barrymore, “Momala” onto her official Instagram bio. But now, Harris can no longer exist simply as a memeable figure in the comfortable but ceremonious office of Vice President—at least not if she wants a chance to win the race for the White House.
As pressure mounted for Biden to step down, conversations over who might replace him began. Interestingly, those conversations did not immediately center around Harris—most eyes were on Gretchen Whitmer or Gavin Newsom. Though, when push came to shove and President Biden endorsed Harris shortly after he dropped out, the conversation shifted from whether Whitmer or Newsom might replace him to whether either one of the Democratic governors might be the vice presidential pick for the Harris campaign.
Many Republicans were happy to hear that Biden dropped out and happier still to see the Democrats rally so fiercely behind Harris. At first glance, the disorganization of the Democratic party and sudden dropping out of the incumbent seemed great news for Trump. But there is good reason to fear the Harris campaign, and if Harris plays her cards right, she will have a better chance at election than Biden ever did. For starters, while Trump is the oldest person to receive the nomination of a major U.S. political party, Harris is the first woman of color to do the same.
Moreover, Harris had the highest fundraising day of 2024 on July 21st and has raised over $500 million since Biden dropped out. It is clear, then, that Harris’s rise to the top of the ticket awakened an enthusiasm for Democrats not felt since the Obama administration.
The problem with Biden was that he defined himself merely as a foil to Trump. Sure, voters were rightfully worried about his speaking and thinking abilities, but he never provided voters with anything more than the sense that a vote for him was a vote taken from Trump. Because of this, the two became sworn enemies. Each side fashioned the other as a monster capable of ruining America by his own hand.
Harris, with her laugh and carefree demeanor, seems incapable of inspiring the same sort of hatred and energy that made the stakes of the election feel so high. With a successful campaign behind her, Harris can remind voters of more traditional Democratic candidates from years past—not one who heralds the imminence of a possible civil war.
Trump may say a defeat of Harris will be easier, but polls say otherwise. And those who found comfort in Trump, might soon wake up in a cold sweat, realizing that whatever he claimed to bring to the table was not worth the tranquility and unity of an entire people. The best thing Harris can do is separate herself from Trump’s hostility. Biden never did, which ensured that he never developed the cult of personality that might have otherwise defended him from attacks on his age and competence. The cornerstone of the Harris campaign will have to be assuring voters that those viral clips of Kamala word-salads, seemingly devoid of substance, can be backed by real legislative and political vision.
In her role as Vice President, Harris was not obligated to fashion her own platform. Now, her ability to do so with conviction and aptitude will determine whether the Democrats secure victory in November.
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