William Henry Harrison, the ninth protector of the American realm, was the last to be born as a British subject and the inaugural standard-bearer of the Whig Party to assume the presidency. His reign was short-lived; his inaugural address, the longest in recorded history, outlived his tenure. His presidential stint barely lasted a month; a sorrowful record of being the first incumbent to perish while in office. Harrison’s political life bore another noteworthy tidbit – he was the final politician to rebound from electoral defeat to claim presidential glory on his second attempt (Jefferson and Jackson trailed the same path before him). Nixon, too, tasted defeat, but his victory was significantly deferred.
Two unique political figures stand out even further, Cleveland and Trump – having a record of winning, losing, and reclaiming the throne. In the post-Harrisonian era, most politicians’ dreams of a glorious comeback were quashed at their second attempt. Adlai Stevenson of the Democratic Party and Thomas Dewey of the Republican Party both suffered dual defeats. Multiple election warriors Henry Clay and William Jennings Bryan, despite their verve, tasted defeat thrice. The voters have spoken – they’re disillusioned with persistent failures.
The pattern does not bode well for Kamala Harris. With her decision against running for governor in California, the murmurs have begun. Will she again attempt to ascend to the highest office of the land? Undeniably, her affiliation with the Democratic Party, currently at a dire nadir of popularity, complicates matters. Pitiable favorability ratings (-30 points) stress the deep-rooted issues of the party – a stark contrast to GOP’s merely eleven negative points.
Accumulating public displeasure isn’t a new phenomenon for the Democratic Party. Infuriating losses against Trump roots a significant chunk of the bitterness. The party’s inability to curtail Trump’s influence despite him vacating office merely adds salt to the wound. With growing discontent within Democratic ranks, Harris cannot avert a share of the blame.
Harris stands as a distressing symbol of the Democratic Party’s turmoil. The party finds itself engaged in a debilitating internal struggle. The progressive wing demands more aggression; the centrist wing fears that the party’s focus has skewed too far leftwards, indulging excessively in culture wars and identity politics. Both factions, however, yearn for victory, creating a troubling conundrum for Harris.
Adding layers to this conundrum is the belief that Harris was set up to be the potential 2024 nominee mainly because she fulfilled diversity requirements. Biden clearly stated his preference for a woman and, subsequently, an African American running mate. Yet, Harris’ challenges surpass her racial or gender identity. It’s her failure to resonate with voters and expand the Democratic stronghold that truly spells trouble.
Harris’ primary challenge is an inability to convert Trump supporters. She couldn’t inspire enough Democrats to march to the polling booths, let alone win over the opposition. Her rhetoric sounded more lecturing than inspiring, closer to the dean of a secluded liberal arts college than a national leader. Public opinion suggests Harris lacked genuineness, a quality voters deeply desired.
Despite possessing a portfolio that should have resonated with many, save for reproductive rights, her convictions appeared scripted, as if tailored to tick boxes rather than emanate from genuine social and political beliefs. Further eroding her image was an ill-advised choice: Harris chose not to distance herself from Biden as per his directives, a move perceived negatively by their detractors.
Her decision to grant her first post-office interview to Stephen Colbert’s ‘The Late Show’ serves as a poignant illustration of her miscalculations. Whilst a hit among Colbert’s partisan audience, such stages hardly cater to the diverse audience Democrats desperately need to win over.
Her choices reveal a profound lack of understanding of her party’s needs, and it’s concerning. If history serves as a guide, and Democrats dare to nominate her again, she is primed to become an unflattering footnote in political trivia rather than a celebrated chapter in presidential history. The entry won’t read, ‘Who was the 48th president of the United States?’
The post Harris: A Beacon of Democratic Party’s Fall appeared first on Real News Now.
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