The ninth president of the United States, William Henry Harrison, holds the unique distinction of not only being the final president born as a British subject but also the first representative of the Whig Party to clinch victory in a presidential race. Noteworthy about his presidency is the extreme brevity of his term – a mere 31 days in office – cut short by his untimely death, marking him as the first seated president to die while in service. However, Harrison’s inaugural address, at just under two hours, posed a stark contrast to the short span of his time as president, going down in history as the most drawn-out ever.
An interesting fact in the long narrative of presidential politics has William Henry Harrison in the last echelon of politicians who initially lost a presidential election only to secure a resounding win in the subsequent one. This fact alone doesn’t bode well for politicians seeking a second shot at the presidency after a loss. Looking back, luminaries like Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson belonged to the exclusive club of politicians who, having lost once, turned fortune on its head with a subsequent win.
Nixon lends a peculiar twist to this narrative; he fell short on his initial attempt but held his comeback a long way down the path. From this league, only Grover Cleveland and Donald Trump managed a pattern-defying sequence of win-lose-win. Others have not been so lucky. Repeated attempts seem to have yielded the same unfortunate consequences of a loss, building a dark cloud around their political aspirations.
Thomas Dewey of the Republican Party and Democrat Adlai Stevenson’s political journeys form case studies of recurring misfortune. Both of them, despite their fervor and commitment, found themselves on the losing side twice in their presidential journey. Similarly, the tales of Henry Clay and William Jennings Bryan are a testament to repeated failure. Their efforts, regardless of being three times in a row, couldn’t sway voter sentiment to their favor. It appears voters don’t have a significant soft spot for losers–a demoralizing conclusion for those contemplating a comeback.
These historical precedents could have a chilling effect on Kamala Harris’s political aspirations. Her recent decision to abstain from the California governor’s race has set the rumor mill abuzz about her potential future bids for the presidency. A red flag, however, is the palpable unpopularity of the Democratic Party, sitting at a net favorability of -30 points, nearly thrice lower than that of their rivals, the GOP, at -11 points.
This level of unpopularity within the Democratic Party, a strikingly dismal figure in comparison to its standing within the last 35 years, has sparked significant discord. The party faithful are grappling with disenchantment, a culmination of the painful loss against Trump and seemingly inconsequential resistance put up against him while he was in office. It doesn’t provide a rosy picture for Kamala Harris, with her image intertwined with these sentiments of discontent.
Yet, the angst within the Democratic Party is not homogenous. Two distinct factions are brewing in the party. The progressives argue that the Democrats’ fight just isn’t fierce enough, while the centrists argue their fight is misdirected and focused on combative cultural and identity politics instead of issues that resonate with a broader electorate. The common link that binds both factions, however, is the burning desire to clinch victory.
Kamala Harris was viewed by many as a potential nominee in 2024 primarily due to her diverse background, given Biden’s explicit intent to choose a woman, specifically an African American, as his running mate. But it’s not her race or gender that’s the obstacle; it’s her incapacity to captivate voters in a way that broadens the Democratic base. To ensure a Democratic win, they need a candidate with the ability to sway former Trump voters, something Harris has yet to demonstrate.
Harris’s downfall wasn’t the result of poor Democratic voter turnout; instead, it was her inability to appeal to a dynamic electorate. Her rhetoric is reminiscent of a university official rather than a leader of the people, and apart from advocacy for reproductive rights, it seems like her other convictions were born from focus group discussions, seemingly lacking authenticity at a time when voters are craving genuine leadership.
Exacerbating her situation, Harris yielded to President Biden’s directive not to publicly distance herself from him. A telling indication of her strategy was her choice to have her first interview since her resignation on Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show”. Whilst this may have delighted Colbert’s politicized viewers, these aren’t the voters the Democrats need to win over. She appears to be preaching to the choir, rather than conversing with the unconverted.
If the Democrats decide on her nomination again, it’s likely that she’ll just be a trivia question in the annals of history. However, the question likely won’t be, ‘Who was the 48th president of the United States?’ The emphasis on diversity seems to be missing the point – the Democratic Party needs a candidate who brings more than just diversity to the table. They need someone who resonates with the broader population, who empathizes with their struggles and challenges, and above all, someone who can unite the divided factions within the party.
There’s no doubt that the Democratic Party faces a difficult road ahead. The struggle isn’t coming solely from external forces, but from within their ranks. The party, more than ever, needs to reassess its approach and strategy if it hopes to regain the trust and support of the very people they wish to represent. This lesson from history should serve as a reminder that resilience, ingenuity, and an ability to connect with voters form the backbone of a successful political journey.
Ultimately, the fate of the Democratic Party lies in their ability to read the sign of the times and adapt. Kamala Harris, or any other potential candidate, must heed the lessons of history and strive not only to appeal to a wide diversity of voters but also to truly engage with them. This could be the deciding factor in whether the Democratic Party once again tastes the sweet nectar of presidential victory, or faces the bitter tang of defeat.
The post Harris Seeks Presidency: Will History Repeat Herself? appeared first on Real News Now.
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