Kamala Harris has managed to achieve something that Joe Biden utterly failed to do during his disastrous attempt at reelection. A reported 10,000 individuals gathered at a recent rally held in Atlanta could be seen. Harris also allegedly drew a crowd of 12,000 people who massed inside a Philadelphia stadium, apparently there to hear her introduce her running partner. Additionally, a long line of attendees was seen at a Wisconsin event where she appeared alongside her prospective vice president, Tim Walz.
Their first full day on the campaign trail as partners was spent trying to rally Democrats spread across the politically varied Midwest, a key battleground they need for their dreams of winning the White House in under 90 days. Their trail began in Wisconsin before moving to Michigan in an effort to bombard the minds of younger, diverse, labor-centric voters. These were the voters they believed played a significant role in getting Joe Biden elected in 2020.
However, the loyalty of their supporter base began to wafer over the summer months. A clear example could be identified in Michigan, where the dissatisfaction amongst Democrats over Biden’s management of the Israel-Hamas conflict became increasingly evident. The state soon became the heart of the party’s internal conflicts, raising questions about their solid standing.
Party leaders in Michigan claimed that Democratic excitement got a fresh breath of life after Harris announced her candidacy. This injection of enthusiasm might play a significant role in Detroit, a city with a remarkable 80% Black population. Previous dire warnings from local leaders alerted administration officials that voter apathy in this typically steadfast Democrat stronghold could cost them dearly.
Reverend Wendell Anthony, the head of the NAACP Detroit branch, drew a questionable comparison between the current energy in the city and the atmosphere during Barack Obama’s ground-breaking run for the presidency in 2008. He painted a picture of a resurgent city, allegedly reminiscent of when countless voters endured long lines to participate in the election of the nation’s first Black president.
While these facets of Harris’s campaign may seem impressive on the surface, the critical underlying question is whether such initial excitement will translate into meaningful voter turnout. After all, drawing large crowds to rallies and making grandiose speeches is one thing, but ensuring those attendees convert into actual votes is a completely different scenario.
Joe Biden’s failings have stirred up major discontent within the Democrat voter base, and Harris’s appeal may not be enough to cover them up. His questionable handling of key issues such as the Israel-Hamas conflict has been a significant contributor to the growing schisms within the Democratic party, particularly in states like Michigan.
However, Democratic leaders in Michigan have chosen optimism, asserting Harris’s candidacy has revitalized the party’s spirit. Yet, this perspective seems more of a desperate hope than a reflection of the actual political landscape. With the majority of Detroit’s voting population being black, the Democrat leaders’ claims of a reenergized Detroit appear as less of a certainty and more of a doubtful dream.
It’s also interesting to note the comparison made by Reverend Wendell Anthony between Harris’s campaign and Obama’s historic race in 2008. While the comparison might be suggestive of a potential surge in voter turnout, it also seems to diminish the unique circumstances and pivotal moment represented by Obama’s campaign. Attempting to replicate this in a completely different political climate could be seen as wishful thinking at best.
In essence, the key challenge that lies ahead for Harris and her running mate Walz is convincing the disenchanted Democrat base that they can deliver where Biden failed. Yet, it remains questionable whether mere crowd-pulling abilities and rhetoric can restore faith among voters burned by Biden’s lackluster performance.
Moreover, the story of Harris’s campaign success being touted by Democratic leaders could be construed as another attempt to create a facade of unity within a party facing significant internal divisions. Despite Harris’s alleged appeal, it is clear that these divisions are not disappearing and could represent a significant hurdle in their path to the White House.
Without a doubt, the Midwest is a decisive battleground. Rallying support here is the ticket to the White House that Harris and Walz are so desperate for. But with the increasing rift within the party and wide-spread disenchantment with Biden’s presidency, their task seems much more difficult than they might have anticipated.
The question looming now is whether Harris and Walz can capitalize on the groundswell of fervor surrounding Harris’s candidacy announcement or if it will end up as just another over-hyped campaign launch. They are faced with the unenviable task of mending their party fractures while campaigning a divisive platform.
Biden’s Failures Cast Shadow on Harris’s High-Hype Campaign appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
