Podcast Summary
Democratic race shift: Joe Biden's exit and Kamala Harris' entry into the Democratic presidential race has brought renewed optimism and transformed the conversation from a dismal slog to an exciting contest
The political landscape underwent a significant shift last week with Joe Biden's decision to drop his reelection campaign and Kamala Harris' entry into the Democratic presidential race. This change has brought a renewed sense of optimism and hope to the race, transforming the conversation from a dismal slog to an exciting and dynamic contest. While the focus has been on the Democratic side, the shift in vibe is palpable and marks a turning point in the 2020 presidential race. This conversation is brought to you by KPMG, a team of talented professionals who work closely with their clients to uncover insights and illuminate opportunities for growth and transformation.
Kamala Harris' Campaign Surge: Kamala Harris' campaign saw a surge in energy, excitement, fundraising, volunteer turnout, and massive attendance at events following her selection as Joe Biden's running mate, despite tight Biden-Trump polling.
The Democratic primary race has seen a significant shift in energy and excitement towards Kamala Harris, following her selection as Joe Biden's running mate. Despite this, Biden-Trump polling remains tight, with Trump still leading or the race being evenly matched. Harris' recent surge can be seen in her impressive fundraising numbers, large volunteer turnout, and the massive attendance at her campaign events. During my 2019 interview with Harris, I found her to be a celebrity within the Democratic Party, but her campaign struggled to articulate a clear message and faced scrutiny over her past as a prosecutor. However, her recent selection as VP nominee has shed new light on her candidacy and reignited interest from voters. One issue we discussed during the interview, her stance on criminal justice reform, offers insight into her current stance on various issues.
Kamala Harris' approach to criminal justice reform: Criticized for tough stance on school attendance as SF DA, Harris' pragmatic yet caring perspective on criminal justice reform is fueling renewed support
Kamala Harris' approach to criminal justice reform as San Francisco DA was met with criticism from liberal activists for her tough stance on school attendance, which she believed was a crucial intervention to prevent young black kids from falling into crime. Despite her campaign generating little excitement when she started running in 2019, there is now more organic grassroots support for her, possibly due to pent-up excitement from the Democratic base who were demoralized by the Biden candidacy. Harris' impassioned belief in keeping kids on the right path, even if it meant threatening parents with jail time, showcases her pragmatic yet caring perspective on criminal justice reform. This perspective, along with the frustration towards the Biden administration, may be fueling the renewed energy and support for Harris.
Democratic enthusiasm: The selection of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden's running mate has sparked Democratic enthusiasm due to her historical significance and the base's strong desire to defeat Donald Trump, even attracting voters who don't follow politics regularly.
Kamala Harris's selection as Joe Biden's running mate has ignited significant Democratic enthusiasm due to her potential historical significance as the first woman, black, and South Asian vice president. This excitement stems from the base's strong desire to defeat Donald Trump and the lack of inspiration from Biden as a candidate. Harris's momentum could continue as presidential elections often attract voters who don't follow politics regularly but make decisions based on vibes. Regarding Harris's potential vice presidential picks, she is likely looking for a profile that balances the ticket. Some names suggested include Mark Kelly from Arizona, Josh Shapiro from Pennsylvania, and Andy Beshear from Kentucky.
Harris' Centrist Shift: Vice President Harris is attempting to appeal to moderate voters by incorporating centrist figures into her team, indicating a less progressive administration, which could impact the election dynamics.
Vice President Kamala Harris is reaching out to moderate voters by bringing in more centrist figures into her team, signaling that her administration will not lean heavily towards progressive policies. Republicans, who once saw a potential landslide victory for Trump due to Biden's perceived weaknesses, are now waiting for the race to settle but remain concerned about the changing dynamics. The concern stems not from Democratic policies per se, but from the perceived strengths of the Republican candidate and the Democratic Party's internal dynamics. This strategy shift by Harris could potentially alter the contours of the race.
Kamala Harris' Opportunity and Challenges: Vice President Kamala Harris has an opportunity to make a fresh start but faces personal attacks from Republicans, while her perceived ideological liberalism may be an effective attack against her.
Vice President Kamala Harris, despite being a part of the Biden administration, has an opportunity to make a fresh start due to voters not holding her accountable for the administration's policies as much as they do with President Biden. However, Republicans are attempting to tie her to these policies and have personally attacked her, similar to how they attacked Biden and Hillary Clinton. Trump's approach of attacking opponents personally may not be as effective against Harris, who has less political baggage than his past two rivals. Yet, most voters perceive Harris as further to the left than Biden and themselves, making it a potential effective attack for Trump to portray her as a doctrinaire, ideological liberal. The coming weeks will provide more insight into the new contours of the race and the effectiveness of these attacks.
Presidential debates: Both Harris and Trump aim to make strong impressions in upcoming debates, with Harris looking to establish presidential credentials and Trump wanting to prove his debate prowess. Biden's role remains uncertain.
Both the Democratic and Republican parties are actively trying to shape public perception of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden ahead of the upcoming presidential debate between Harris and Donald Trump. Harris, who is relatively unknown to voters, needs to make a strong impression and establish her presidential credentials. Trump, on the other hand, wants to prove that he can hold his own against Harris, especially after his debate performance against Biden was criticized. Regarding Biden, it remains to be seen how much he will be involved in the campaign leading up to the election, as Harris has already begun taking on some presidential responsibilities, such as speaking on behalf of the administration during international meetings. Overall, the debates will be a crucial opportunity for both candidates to make their case to voters and potentially sway undecided opinions.
Biden's Endorsement of Harris: Joe Biden's endorsement of Kamala Harris significantly boosted her campaign and positions her as a quasi-incumbent, with the election serving as a referendum on Biden's leadership.
Joe Biden's decision to step down from the presidential race and endorse Kamala Harris has significantly boosted her campaign. The administration is positioning her as a quasi-incumbent, and Biden's strong endorsement has been crucial to her political success. The election is a referendum on Biden's leadership, and Harris' success will be the final verdict on his governance. Regarding a listener's question, there is no deadline for candidates to be certified in Ohio for the November election. Previously, there was a deadline, but it was changed due to the Democratic convention being unusually late this year. Therefore, the Ohio deadline will not impact Kamala Harris' bid for the White House.
Election adaptability: The Democrats' ability to adapt to unexpected challenges, such as a deadline issue in Ohio, by holding a virtual convention ensured continuity in the election process.
During the 2020 Democratic primary season, there was a possibility that the Democratic presidential nominee might not appear on ballots in Ohio due to a deadline issue. To avoid this, the Democrats planned to hold an early virtual convention where democratic delegates would register their preferences for the party's nominee electronically instead of in person. Although the Ohio legislature later changed the law, the Democrats decided to proceed with the virtual process in August to ensure continuity. This discussion highlights the importance of adaptability in the face of unexpected challenges during election processes.