Omar Bennett
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, has been the subject of speculation regarding her political future, with some suggesting she may run for governor in 2026 or even make another bid for the presidency in 2028. However, there are several reasons why one might choose not to vote for Kamala Harris. Firstly, Harris has been criticised for her inability to clearly articulate her political vision and differentiate herself from her former boss, President Joe Biden, during her 2024 presidential campaign. This lack of a compelling message or distinct platform may have contributed to her defeat against Donald Trump. Additionally, Harris has faced scrutiny for her perceived failures on border security and her tough-on-crime reputation as a former prosecutor. Furthermore, some voters have expressed gender-based biases, questioning whether America is ready for a female president, which has influenced their decision not to support Harris.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Failed to provide a convincing argument | Failed to outline her own policies and address perceived failures |
| Not enough differentiation from Biden | Failed to make the case that she would be different from Biden |
| Poor messaging | Failed to counter Trump's messaging on the economy |
| Gender bias | Some voters said they couldn't see a woman as president |
| Perceived failures on border security | Critics claimed she was too lax on law and order |
| Mixed messages on crime | Critics claimed she was simultaneously too tough on crime |
| Lack of trust | Failed to gain trust of key voting blocs |
| Tactical errors | Spent too much time attacking Trump and not enough outlining her own ideas |
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What You'll Learn
Perceived failures on border security
Kamala Harris's perceived failures on border security have been a significant point of criticism. While Harris and her backers deny that she was ever the "border czar", critics have argued that she failed to secure the country's borders effectively.
During her tenure, Harris supported policies that cut ICE beds, stopped border wall construction, and ended Title 42, a Trump-era expulsion measure ordered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Illegal crossings from Mexico and Northern Triangle countries increased significantly under her watch, surpassing those seen during the Trump administration by 140%. Harris's detractors have also criticised her for dismissing border visits as "grand gestures" and for her limited engagement with Border Patrol leadership.
In September 2022, Harris falsely claimed on national television that "the border is secure". This statement was contradicted by data showing 272,338 encounters at US borders that month, the worst September in decades. Former Border Patrol Chief and CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan characterised Harris's performance as "the worst, unmitigated border security crisis in our lifetime", asserting that it negatively impacted the country's safety and national security.
However, supporters of Harris acknowledge the complexity of the situation and point to her long-term approach to tackling the root causes of migration. They argue that she demonstrated leadership by leveraging her influence to secure investments that might curb migration in the future. Harris focused on addressing endemic corruption in Central America, which has fuelled migration, and worked to push leaders in the Northern Triangle and Mexico to enforce immigration laws.
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Poor messaging
Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign suffered from poor messaging, which contributed to her defeat to Donald Trump. Here are some examples that illustrate this issue:
Firstly, Harris struggled to differentiate herself from her predecessor, President Joe Biden. While she attempted to distance herself from his policies, she failed to clearly articulate her own agenda. This left voters confused about her political stance and unsure of what to expect from a Harris administration.
Additionally, during her campaign, Harris provided vague and unsatisfactory responses to important questions. For instance, when asked what she would change from the Biden presidency, she infamously replied, "There is not a thing that comes to mind." This response, dubbed as the "worst answer ever given" by Democratic strategist James Carville, undermined her ability to offer a fresh perspective and provide the change that voters were seeking.
Harris's campaign also faced challenges due to her gender. Despite her qualifications and experience, some voters, including women, expressed doubts about whether America was ready for a female president. These sentiments reflect deep-seated biases and stereotypes that continue to persist in society.
Furthermore, Harris's messaging on economic issues fell flat with voters. While the Democratic Party touted the achievements of higher average wages and low unemployment, these messages did not resonate with voters who were more concerned about rising inflation and the cost of living. The campaign's inability to effectively communicate their economic policies and address the financial worries of the electorate contributed to their loss.
Lastly, Harris's stance on certain issues, such as border security and crime, was unclear and inconsistent. The Trump campaign successfully branded her as both "communist" and "lax on law and order," while also criticizing her tough-on-crime approach as the district attorney of San Francisco. This demonstrates a failure in messaging, as Harris was unable to effectively convey her positions and counter the negative narratives propagated by her opponents.
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Reluctance to break with Biden's policies
Kamala Harris's reluctance to break with Joe Biden's policies during her 2024 presidential campaign has been cited as a reason for her defeat to Donald Trump. In the book "Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House", authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes allege that Biden refused to allow Harris to establish "daylight" between his policies and hers. This insistence reportedly hampered Harris's ability to present herself as a change agent to the electorate, which was crucial due to the unpopularity of the Biden administration.
Harris's failure to differentiate herself from Biden was particularly evident during an interview on ABC's "The View". When asked what she would have done differently from Biden, Harris infamously replied, "There is not a thing that comes to mind." This response was criticised by Democratic strategist James Carville as the "worst answer ever given" and was used by the Republicans in attack ads.
In the lead-up to the election, Harris's campaign initially ditched Biden's core argument that Trump posed an existential threat to democracy, opting instead for a "joyful" message about protecting personal freedoms and preserving the middle class. However, in the final stretch, Harris shifted her focus back to attacking Trump, calling him a "fascist" and highlighting the dangers of a second Trump presidency. Despite these efforts, Harris struggled to make the case for why she should be the next president and was unable to effectively outline her vision for the country's future.
Allen and Parnes's book provides further insights into the dynamics between Harris and Biden during the campaign. It describes how Harris's advisers objected to her reciting a "laundry list" of Biden's policies during a joint television interview with her running mate, Tim Walz. They believed this reinforced a perception that she was "either incapable or afraid of answering tough questions on her own." Additionally, the book reveals ""hush-hush talks" among Democratic officials as early as 2023 regarding Biden's potential withdrawal from the race due to concerns about his age and fitness.
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Her gender
Kamala Harris's gender has been a significant factor in her political career, and it has been a barrier to gaining support from some voters. In the 2024 election, Harris was the Democratic presidential nominee and the first female vice president, but she lost to Donald Trump. While there were likely multiple factors influencing the election outcome, one reason cited by voters for not choosing Harris was her gender.
Oliver Hall, a volunteer for the Harris phone bank, recounted his experience trying to persuade voters to choose Harris over Trump. He reported that, time and again, voters, often women themselves, expressed the belief that "America is [not] ready for a female president." They questioned whether a woman could "run the country" and made statements such as, "you don't see women building skyscrapers." Hall noted that these conversations often started positively regarding policy but ended with Harris's gender as the deciding factor.
The impact of Harris's gender on voters' perceptions and decisions highlights a persistent challenge for women seeking leadership roles, particularly in politics. Despite the advancements in gender equality and increasing representation of women in politics, there remains a segment of the electorate hesitant to support a female candidate for the highest office in the land. This resistance to a woman in the White House is an obstacle that Harris has had to navigate in her political career.
While some voters expressed doubts about Harris's ability to lead due to her gender, others supported her because they saw her as a candidate of change, calm, honesty, and hope for a better future. Her gender did not play a role in their decision-making process, and they focused on her policies and vision for the country.
As Harris continues her political career and considers future bids for office, her gender will likely remain a factor for some voters. However, it is essential to recognize that gender should not be a disqualifying factor in evaluating a candidate's qualifications and suitability for office. Voters should focus on the candidate's policies, values, and ability to lead, regardless of their gender, to make informed decisions that align with their interests and beliefs.
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Lack of a clear policy platform
Kamala Harris's 2024 vice-presidential campaign was criticized for a lack of clear policy direction. While Harris attempted to distance herself from the Biden administration, she failed to convincingly outline her own policies. Instead of addressing perceived failures directly, she skirted around the issues. This was reflected in her infamous response when asked what she would change from the Biden presidency: "There is not a thing that comes to mind".
Harris's campaign focused on attacking Trump and the dangers of a second Trump presidency. While this may have been a tactical decision, it ultimately backfired, as voters wanted to know more about Harris's plans for her own administration. Veteran Republican pollster Frank Luntz commented: "Voters already know everything there is about Trump – but they still wanted to know more about Harris’ plans for the first hour, first day, first month and first year of her administration... It was a colossal failure for her campaign to shine the spotlight on Trump more than on Harris’s own ideas".
Harris's failure to provide a clear policy platform may have contributed to her underperformance with key voting blocs. Exit polls showed she lost 13 points with Latino voters, two points with Black voters, and six points with voters under 30.
Democratic strategist James Carville reflected on Harris's defeat, stating: "The greatest motivator of turnout, of voting, of persuasion is a reason. If you don't have a reason, you can't [win]. People had a reason to vote for Trump... [they] wanted some change". Carville's comments highlight the importance of providing voters with a clear and compelling policy platform to rally behind.
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Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris has been criticised for her perceived failures on border security and law and order. She has also been accused of being too loyal to Joe Biden and failing to make the case that she would be different from him. Harris's infamous appearance on 'The View' was also criticised, with some saying she did not give a reason to vote for her.
Some people believe that Harris did not adequately address the perceived failures of the Biden administration and did not clearly outline her own policies. Harris has also been criticised for her tough stance on crime as the district attorney of San Francisco.
Yes, according to exit polls, Harris lost 13 points with Latino voters, two points with Black voters, and six points with voters under 30.
Some people believed that the economy was better under Trump and that wages were higher. Others believed that Harris was a "communist" and that America was not ready for a female president.
Some people might have voted for Trump because of the Democratic position on Palestinians and Gaza. Others might have been influenced by the effective counter-messaging of the Trump campaign, which branded Harris as both a communist and simultaneously too tough on crime.
