Kamala Harris’s campaign in 2024 appears to be mirroring some of the same blunders that Hillary Clinton made in 2016. Back then, Clinton was widely criticized for neglecting key battleground states like Wisconsin, a misstep that was only amplified by overconfidence in misleading polls. Clinton’s camp believed they had the election wrapped up based on favorable polling that gave her a high probability of winning, and many see that as part of her downfall. But Harris’s situation is even more precarious. Unlike 2016, this race is neck-and-neck, with most predictions indicating it will be very tight, leaving Harris with no room for complacency.
Despite this, it seems Harris is repeating some of those same errors. Her campaign schedule is notably lighter than Trump’s. Even though the Harris camp tries to spin Trump’s grueling schedule as a sign of his exhaustion, it’s hard to ignore the fact that while Trump has been out there energizing crowds, Harris was prepping for two interviews, taking time off the campaign trail. It raises eyebrows about her commitment to the grind when every second counts at this stage of the race. The comparison becomes even more stark when you consider Trump’s recent PR win, flipping burgers at McDonald’s and connecting with everyday voters while Harris was seemingly in retreat mode.
The Harris campaign has been hit with even more criticism for spending time in states like Texas and Kentucky, deep red states where a Democratic victory is all but impossible. Why they’re spending precious time in places they can’t win, when states like Wisconsin and Michigan are up for grabs, is baffling. Yes, Trump took a trip to Montana, but that visit had a clear purpose: to boost a candidate in a key Senate race, Tim Sheehy, who is showing a solid lead against Democrat Jon Tester. Harris and Walz, on the other hand, don’t seem to have the same clear strategy in these states, making their campaign stops feel like wasted efforts.
At this point in the election, with polls showing such a close race, it’s hard to see the logic in spending time on down-ballot races or in states that will almost certainly remain red. It makes Harris and Walz’s priorities look scattered, and more like they’re trying to patch holes in a sinking ship than strategically positioning themselves for a win. The decision to take time off the campaign trail for interview prep, especially after a weak stretch, only adds fuel to the fire of criticism. It’s increasingly looking like they’re sleepwalking through a campaign that demands much more urgency.
