Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris recently found herself in a bit of a pickle while trying to sell herself as the “change candidate” for the 2024 election. In an appearance on ABC’s The View, Harris was asked about the current state of governance under President Joe Biden. With the country feeling the heat of skyrocketing inflation and a series of questionable decisions, she confidently stated she wouldn’t actually change anything about the Biden administration. This revelation might have been a hard sell for voters who are apparently looking for a complete overhaul, given that many think the country is heading in the wrong direction.
Harris, trying to court the “change” narrative, instead seemed more like a loyal understudy to the incumbent president. She highlighted shared life experiences with Biden and reassured everyone that she was intricately involved in the decisions made during their administration. Critics quickly pointed out that if Harris truly desired a change, she had nearly four years to enact it alongside Biden, yet here they are, unsatisfied and unfulfilled. The former president, Donald Trump, certainly made that point clear, proving once again that his team is more than happy to capitalize on Harris’s clumsy attempts at political distancing.
Kamala Harris says she wouldn’t change a thing that Biden has done, and Biden says she’s been integral to all of it. A “new way forward?” Hardly. Last night’s discussion of Harris somehow getting outsmarted (!!!) on The View on @cnn pic.twitter.com/rZcWJby5CW
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) October 9, 2024
In a surprising twist, Harris announced her eye-catching plan to include a Republican in her potential Cabinet, stating that she isn’t burdened by pride in seeking a “good idea.” This proclamation comes off as a desperate attempt to reach out to moderates and disenchanted Republicans, though it sparks a few vital questions. Does she genuinely believe Rose-colored inclusivity is going to erase the far-left policies she has advocated for? More importantly, does she think having a Republican in her Cabinet is enough to coax conservatives into voting for her? One could argue that if this were a genuine pursuit of bipartisan collaboration, she would have started doing it a long time ago.
Interestingly, her participation in political events alongside former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney did not go unnoticed. While she aims to attract Republicans disillusioned with Trump, her overall strategy appears to pivot on casting shade on Trump’s moments of turmoil, such as the January 6 Capitol incident. However, if Harris wants to position herself as the anti-Trump, it quickly becomes evident that she is battling an uphill climb, particularly with those in her party who still hold the reins.
Meanwhile, a spat between Harris and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been brewing as Hurricane Milton looms on the horizon, casting shadows over her unconvincing calls for unity and collaboration. Harris took to The View to discuss the seriousness of the impending storm and her numerous conversations with other governors, emphasizing the urgency for people in Florida to heed local evacuation orders. Ironically, in her effort to appear proactive, Harris should take a lesson from DeSantis, who has consistently been praised for his decisive leadership during crises.
In an ambitious media blitz, Harris aimed to reach a variety of demographics, targeting women and caregivers with proposals to expand Medicare to include at-home care for seniors. This push reflects the ongoing attempt to connect her personal experiences with a broader political agenda. However, making Medicare more expansive is a heavy lift that harkens back to the classic playbook of bureaucratic expansion. It’s worth questioning whether the majority of Americans are on board with using Medicare as a vehicle for new spending initiatives rather than addressing the urgent financial strains that already exist under the program.
Ultimately, Harris’s quest for relevance in a political landscape that is crucially shifting right will depend heavily on her ability to capitalize on the narrative of change while simultaneously wrestling with her ties to the current administration. Perhaps if she can find a way to redefine herself without sacrifice or consequence, she might emerge as a formidable contender on the campaign trail. For now, though, her stumbling on The View could very well be the opening act in a political drama most Americans didn’t even know they were witnessing.
