Staff Reports
Kamala Harris’s efforts to cozy up to Republicans and independents have left a portion of her own party feeling like they’ve been ditched for those who still wear their “I Miss Trump” hats. According to a recent poll from Our Revolution, a group that sprang from Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign, only one in ten self-identified progressives are planning to hit the polls for Harris next month. These numbers are as disheartening for the left as a foot of snow in early April.
The poll surveyed over 4,600 voters and found that 15% of respondents have decided to take a hard pass on Harris. Interestingly enough, among those distancing themselves, 13% are contemplating voting for someone else entirely, while a brave 2% are opting for not voting at all. In swing states, the vibe is even worse for Harris, with a notable 10% of progressives planning to sit this one out. One must wonder how much outreach was attempted when nearly a third of those polled say they haven’t heard a peep from her campaign.
The progressives’ disdain for Harris’s Republican wooing is palpable, especially as she has been seen practically shadowing former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney more than her own party associates. It turns out that trying to brand herself as a centrist might just be akin to a cat trying to bark. Progressives, who once sang her praises, are now feeling ditched while she attempts to silence Trump’s claims of being “dangerously liberal.” That in itself could be a campaign slogan—”Kamala Harris: Liberal, but not too much!”
Kamala Harris’ outreach to Republicans has alienated progressives, poll findshttps://t.co/CpVA8JSewz pic.twitter.com/Y4Q0ZY6lqf
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 29, 2024
In an ironic twist, Ms. Harris has been mum about climate change yet suddenly has a penchant for discussing her gun ownership. One shudders to think what her next move might be—perhaps a dance-off with a Second Amendment supporter at an NRA convention. Although the Harris campaign has been persistent in shoving a narrative that everyone is welcome under her big tent, it seems like that tent is coming the size of a child’s play structure when it comes to progressive support.
While the Harris campaign insists that it can dance between political ideologies without stepping on too many toes, the numbers tell a different story. A mere 3% of Trump voters from 2020 now support Harris, while 4% of those who voted for Biden have jumped ship to Trump. This doesn’t appear to be the grand bipartisan reboot she was banking on. Some progressive insiders have openly questioned the wisdom behind her chase for Republican approval, emphasizing the critical need to invest in their base instead of dangling shiny keys for GOP voters who likely won’t come over.
Joseph Geevarghese of Our Revolution has made it clear that chasing after Republican support is a fool’s errand. He believes it would be wiser for Democrats to focus on hardcore issues that resonate with working families instead of trying to charm GOP endorsements that are as beneficial as a screen door on a submarine. So, while Harris might be schmoozing with the other side, her own constituents may be left wondering if she cares more about trying to woo Republicans than addressing their concerns and values.
