Kamala Harris seems a bit lost these days.
Her recent public outings have been unpredictable, from an awkward flirtation with the idea of running for California governor to an unusual maneuver in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. It appears that both Harris and her team are struggling to stay relevant.
First off, she’s put out a new book titled What It’s. While she may change her mind, right now she’s running unofficially. This book is an “Unfiltered appearance,” but unfortunately, it resembles a carefully crafted but soulless campaign ad. The content suggests weakness on Harris’s part, revealing flaws in her approach and strategy.
Her handling of the declining popularity of Joe Biden shows a mixture of confusion and overthinking. It’s almost like she’s trying to balance on a tightrope between defending him and acknowledging her own frustrations. The situation is reminiscent of Selina Meyer from “Veep,” attempting to find middle ground that really doesn’t exist.
Harris tries to portray Biden as focused, while also pointing fingers at those who seem reckless. This makes her appear ridiculous, and it plays into the hands of Biden’s defenders. It’s as if she’s stuck in a position where both Biden and his fervent followers are dragging her down. Her book’s political strategies lack clarity and tend to oscillate between provisioning and restraint.
It’s puzzling that Team Harris decided to leverage the book as a platform to take shots at potential opponents for 2028. Critics have noted that she seems to address her fellow Democrats without understanding how that might affect her standing. The media isn’t picking up on her insightful critiques; rather, they focus on how feeble they come across.
Harris has made her feelings clear about her opponents, but it hasn’t resulted in any substantial impact. Instead, she’s throwing darts in a haphazard manner, missing the mark with key targets. The push against Pete Buttigieg, for instance, has been significant but not particularly well-executed.
At its core, Harris’s argument seems to suggest that having Buttigieg as a running mate wouldn’t resonate with the public, attempting to wield identity politics in favor of a “Black woman” over a “gay man.” It’s a confusing tactic, especially since she doesn’t publicly articulate her strategy.
Harris had two choices with this book: lay out her vision for the future or settle scores and put her opponents on the defense. Instead, it comes across as a poorly executed committee project, lacking a strong message.
She ought to be a strong contender for the 2028 Democratic nomination. After all, millions of Democrats voted for her recently, and she has experience on a national stage that few can match.
However, she’s not currently standing out as the frontrunner. It now appears that both the Democratic establishment and the media are making it difficult for her to break through. While her approval ratings are decent, they aren’t particularly impressive.
As of August, polls indicated that Harris still enjoys support among Democrats and liberals, even if her star seems to be fading. Her approval stands at 84% among Democrats versus 14% disapproval, and 82% versus 15% among liberals. That’s better than Bernie Sanders, who has a slight edge among liberals but lags behind Harris with Democrats. Gavin Newsom doesn’t receive a significantly higher approval rating either.
These numbers largely reflect Democrats’ disdain for Donald Trump rather than a solid endorsement of Harris. When placed against her peers also eyeing a 2028 run, her performance is underwhelming.
Polls show Harris trailing various rivals, with one survey putting Newsom ahead of her by two points, while another shows him leading by a whopping 16 points. Emerson’s polling has Harris trailing at just 11%. The only survey that puts her ahead of Newsom shows a narrow margin at 29% to 19%, which is quite concerning given her name recognition.
Harris now needs to shift the narrative and show she can stand up to Trump. She has squandered the structural advantages she once had, and now she’s playing catch-up to Newsom. To regain her footing would require a level of creativity and risk-taking that she hasn’t demonstrated yet.
Historically, Harris has played it safe and avoided angering factions within the Democratic Party, resulting in vague, predictable policy positions. She thrived previously when competing against less seasoned opponents without the same level of scrutiny or competition. Now, in this environment, she’s struggling.
Today, she faces real competition, and the lack of regard for her candidacy is palpable. Harris finds herself without a safety net, and frankly, her prospects aren’t looking great.
