Staff Reports
Three weeks out from Election Day and you can practically hear the Democrats’ internal discord echoing through the halls of the White House. As Trump hits the campaigning trail like a champ, knocking on doors and making speeches, the Democrats find themselves engrossed in a classic case of infighting, likely fueled by the fear of losing. Reports about tensions between Biden and Harris reveal a relationship that’s “increasingly fraught” — a euphemism that just serves to sugarcoat the chaos in the Democratic camp.
The White House has predictably tried to deny any rifts, but this is the same administration that promised us inflation was temporary and everything would be just fine. Their latest contortions to downplay the situation smack of desperation, but this comes right on the heels of Harris’ plummeting poll numbers, indicating that the knives are out and they’re ready to start assigning blame. If the Democrats are crafting excuses already, one can only wonder how confident they really are about the upcoming election.
AXIOS: "There's growing worry among Democrats that Harris seems stuck, even sliding a bit, after a strong start to her young presidential campaign. Her media blitz, heavy spending and largely favorable coverage don't seem to be moving the needle much, if at all, these Democrats… pic.twitter.com/5Q5eksKqwo
— Douglass Mackey (@DougMackeyCase) October 10, 2024
Barack Obama has decided to surface from his post-presidency cocoon to push Harris over the finish line. Let’s be real: it’s deeply personal for him. Trump’s presidency is a dagger in the heart of Obama’s legacy; the fact that his successors weren’t Hill or Joe but rather the Donald haunts him. So, with some mildly condescending chiding aimed at Black men for opting to vote Republican or sitting out, Obama reminds everyone that he’s still staking his reputation on the current administration.
Despite the White House’s bravado, everyone knows the truth: Harris is trending downward. While public polling shows a narrow race, internal Democratic polling tells a different story, pointing to troubling numbers that make them anxious. Even if the race is tight—well, “tight” can mean “a loss is one misstep away,” especially when Harris is trailing compared to Biden’s and Hillary’s historic numbers. It’s not an ideal position for the Democrats to be in, resembling a boxer who’s exhausted but still thinks he might turn the tide.
All the signs indicate panic in the camp—Tim Walz’s frantic efforts to charm hunters and sports fans suggest desperation rather than strategy. Harris is scrambling, reversing her media tactics, and relying on the heavyweight endorsement of figures like Obama, hoping something will miraculously turn in her favor. Ironically, this resembles the very Hail Mary tendencies they once criticized in Republicans.
The looming question remains about the effectiveness of Harris’s coalition. Polling indicates that while she’s trying to sway suburban women and millennials, she’s losing ground with the very groups that once buoyed the Democratic Party—working-class voters and minorities. It’s almost as if she skipped the memo on how to capitalize on Obama’s powerful coalitions. Instead, her campaign feels more like a last-minute scramble to piece together a jigsaw puzzle than a solid strategy for victory.
As Harris treks across battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina in a frantic last-minute effort, one can’t help but notice the notable absence of Nevada and Arizona—two states that are looking more and more like Trump territory. With her campaign apparently unsure of where they can secure victories, the lack of confidence will be palpable as the clock ticks down to Election Day. Should Harris somehow manage to pull off a miracle, the infighting will vanish, but should she falter, this week may become the moment that signifies the beginning of the end for Democrats and all their frustrated ambitions.
