Why Kamala Harris Lost: The Challenges of a Complex Campaign

[Social Media]

 

Nearly a month ago, Kamala Harris appeared on *The View* for what was expected to be a favorable interview to connect with the American public. But the conversation quickly veered off course when she was asked what she would have done differently from President Joe Biden. Her answer, "Not a thing comes to mind," turned into a Republican attack ad and highlighted the difficulties her campaign faced in securing a victory over Donald Trump on Tuesday.

"Sometimes the fight takes a while."

Here is the full entire concession speech from VP Kamala Harris at Howard University.

☹️ pic.twitter.com/5TUVHPdFEw

— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) November 6, 2024

 

By late Wednesday, Harris publicly conceded, urging her supporters to "do not despair." Her loss has left Democrats questioning what went wrong and what the future holds for their party. Harris campaign officials were initially silent, with some aides stunned and tearful, anticipating a closer race. "Losing is unfathomably painful. It is hard," campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon wrote in an email to staff. "This will take a long time to process."

 

As vice president, Harris was closely tied to Biden, a president with low approval ratings and a heavy association with economic struggles, which many Americans see as top issues. Biden’s approval ratings remained in the low 40s throughout his term, and around two-thirds of voters consistently reported that they believed the U.S. was on the wrong track. Harris was expected to bring fresh energy and change, but distancing herself from the president was a difficult, if not impossible, task. Her former communication director, Jamal Simmons, described it as a "trap," noting that distancing herself from Biden would have only exposed her to new attacks. "You can't really run away from the president who chooses you," Simmons stated.

 

Biden’s decision to drop out after a poor debate performance left Harris leading the ticket without a primary vote to validate her candidacy, bypassing the vetting and momentum a primary contest might have provided. She began a 100-day campaign on a message of "a new generation of leadership," with a strong focus on women’s rights, abortion access, and working-class issues such as rising costs and housing affordability. Her campaign initially gained traction, with endorsements from public figures like Taylor Swift and record-setting donations, but it was not enough to shift the anti-Biden sentiment that permeated the electorate.

 

Harris’s campaign tried to frame the race as a referendum on Trump, leaning into her background as a prosecutor to critique the former president. She also aimed to balance a positive, forward-looking message with warnings about Trump’s potential return to power. However, as the election drew closer, her strategy shifted to a direct confrontation, labeling Trump a “fascist” and calling him “unhinged and unstable” in response to former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s account of Trump’s alarming remarks about Adolf Hitler.

 

This pivot, though intended to energize the base, may have ultimately backfired. Republican pollster Frank Luntz observed, "Kamala Harris lost this election when she pivoted to focus almost exclusively on attacking Donald Trump." Her attempt to emphasize the dangers of a Trump presidency while also providing a hopeful vision for the future left some voters uncertain about her own platform and her approach to pressing issues like economic anxiety and immigration.

 

In the end, Harris’s close alignment with Biden and a campaign strategy that wavered between optimism and confrontation may have eroded her standing with voters. As Democrats look ahead, her loss underscores the complexities of maintaining party unity while pushing for change—especially when burdened with an incumbent's legacy.

 

Based on a report by BBC 2024-11-08

 

 

 

[thrilled]

She didn’t get 1 vote in the Democrat primary. She dropped out. Biden probably shouldn’t have allowed, Schumer, Obama and Pelosi to push him out. Anyway there wasn’t to much to the huzzy

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

She began a 100-day campaign on a message of "a new generation of leadership," with a strong focus on women’s rights, abortion access, and working-class issues such as rising costs and housing affordability.

Had she concentrated on the working class issues she might have done better. The greater emphasis on women and abortion etc were not important to financially struggling voters.

 

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

Harris’s campaign tried to frame the race as a referendum on Trump, leaning into her background as a prosecutor to critique the former president. She also aimed to balance a positive, forward-looking message with warnings about Trump’s potential return to power. However, as the election drew closer, her strategy shifted to a direct confrontation, labeling Trump a “fascist” and calling him “unhinged and unstable” in response to former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s account of Trump’s alarming remarks about Adolf Hitler.

In the end, all she had was Trump bad. Certainly seemed she couldn't open her mouth for longer than 5 minutes without attacking Trump.

Voters want a positive message as to how she would make their lives better, but were disappointed. Negativity is a very big turn off.

Adolf Hitler- seriously? I suspect we won't be hearing much from Kelly for a very long time.

 

IMO she was the author of her own downfall.

[Cryingdick]

She didn't make sense without the aid of a teleprompter. She tried to stage a campaign that resembled a terrible reality show studded with the dimmest celebrities out there. When she did speak on a teleprompter it was all venom and nastiness. Abortion doesn't sell as well as they thought and that's all they had.

 

What little she said about economics was utterly moronic. Like $25,000 for first time homeowners. Despite what that would do to small towns where a decent house can be had for under $100k people also realized first time buyer was code for illegal aliens. 

 

The border.

 

Her horrible VP pick the folksy smooth hands lily white latent homo that although he was an expert on football couldn't go to any national game without being booed. 

 

Offering black people $20,000 in "forgivable" loans and a chance to sell weed in the opportunity economy.

 

The list goes on. . Her campaign will be a case study in what not to do on the campaign trail. Add this to the fact she is unlikeable and dumb as a rock. 

 

 

[jimmybcool]

Bill Clinton said it best.  "It's the economy stupid".  No Democrat was going to win unless they distanced themself from the current policies that led to the reduction in real spending power for the average working family.  Add to that she is seriously inept speaking without a teleprompter.  The Democrats show themselves in the foot.

 

[Luuk Chaai]

1 hour ago, thrilled said:

She didn’t get 1 vote in the Democrat primary. She dropped out. Biden probably shouldn’t have allowed, Schumer, Obama and Pelosi to push him out. Anyway there wasn’t to much to the huzzy

 

 

hard to imagine  ..  election results showed she under performed in every county vs Biden's record

 that's the true definition of Loser !

[Luuk Chaai]

36 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

She didn't make sense without the aid of a teleprompter. She tried to stage a campaign that resembled a terrible reality show studded with the dimmest celebrities out there. When she did speak on a teleprompter it was all venom and nastiness. Abortion doesn't sell as well as they thought and that's all they had.

 

What little she said about economics was utterly moronic. Like $25,000 for first time homeowners. Despite what that would do to small towns where a decent house can be had for under $100k people also realized first time buyer was code for illegal aliens. 

 

The border.

 

Her horrible VP pick the folksy smooth hands lily white latent homo that although he was an expert on football couldn't go to any national game without being booed. 

 

Offering black people $20,000 in "forgivable" loans and a chance to sell weed in the opportunity economy.

 

The list goes on. . Her campaign will be a case study in what not to do on the campaign trail. Add this to the fact she is unlikeable and dumb as a rock. 

 

 

 

hey,,   why are you dissin' rocks ?

dumber than stepped in dog sh** would have fit better

[NickyLouie]

She lost because USA is racist and misogynistic.

 

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

43 minutes ago, NickyLouie said:

She lost because USA is racist and misogynistic.

 

 

 

 

 

Sore loser?

[RichardColeman]

They lost simply as she was an idiot, nobody knew her policies and the public had had enough of the left wing lunacy.

 

With Trump they had some hope of change, the idiot they only had more of the same lunacy

[PeterA]

Im my humble opinion, the Dems lost as they continue to play the good guys.  No cheating, lying or any of the antics the Chump campaign did. When they play as dirty as the republicans, they will stand a better chance. 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, PeterA said:

Im my humble opinion, the Dems lost as they continue to play the good guys.  No cheating, lying or any of the antics the Chump campaign did. When they play as dirty as the republicans, they will stand a better chance. 

I love your use of sarcasm.

[thesetat2013]

2 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

She didn't make sense without the aid of a teleprompter. She tried to stage a campaign that resembled a terrible reality show studded with the dimmest celebrities out there. When she did speak on a teleprompter it was all venom and nastiness. Abortion doesn't sell as well as they thought and that's all they had.

 

What little she said about economics was utterly moronic. Like $25,000 for first time homeowners. Despite what that would do to small towns where a decent house can be had for under $100k people also realized first time buyer was code for illegal aliens. 

 

The border.

 

Her horrible VP pick the folksy smooth hands lily white latent homo that although he was an expert on football couldn't go to any national game without being booed. 

 

Offering black people $20,000 in "forgivable" loans and a chance to sell weed in the opportunity economy.

 

The list goes on. . Her campaign will be a case study in what not to do on the campaign trail. Add this to the fact she is unlikeable and dumb as a rock. 

 

 

I would have to agree with most of your points. 

This article is quite biased. I do not think Bidens performance and her being the VP had anything to do with her losing the election. It was her lack of knowledge when spoken to. Her word salads ( nice name to put on someone who repeats the same words because they do not know what to say) 

As well as her lack of strength on any policy. She spent her campaign constantly changing her ideals on most every topic based on where she was at and what that city or state were thinking was good. She changed her accent to try to appease races rather than being herself. Many things Harris did that made her lose the election.

[morrobay]

It's over. @thaibeachlovers nothing more to be gained by continuing engaging in this endless democratic nonsense from these people . Not looking at any more on this subject whatever.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

44 minutes ago, PeterA said:

Im my humble opinion, the Dems lost as they continue to play the good guys.  No cheating, lying or any of the antics the Chump campaign did. When they play as dirty as the republicans, they will stand a better chance. 

Excellent sarcasm...good one!🤣

[NickyLouie]

What are they waiting for ?

 

[spidermike007]

Oh please. I think this has to be an inflection point for the dems, there is much to be learned. I can't tell you the number of people that I've spoken with that tell me that the two biggest issues for them were the economy (and their perception that Biden was not doing much for the economy, which I tend to agree with) and the PC agenda. Especially trans rights, the fact that they had daughters who competed on teams that insisted on a man who decided to transition being allowed to use the same locker room even though his package was still intact. I don't think that as a Democrat we can overestimate the degree to which people were offended by that kind of policy. I could go on and on about the PC agenda and the extent to which it alienated tens of millions of folks, feeling like it was being crammed down their throats, how to speak, how to behave, and how to act.

 

I have to admit I am amongst those people, I am not a PC guy, I have not bought into the woke agenda, so I can relate. 

 

The other aspect of this is that Biden should have been forced to accept one term, and he should have been moved aside before he even made the decision to run again. It's not about deferring to an incumbent, it's about the survival of the party. 

 

My last thought is that after this massive failure the entire Democratic party apparatus should be dismantled, all the people in charge should be fired, and the party should be rebuilt from scratch from the ground up.

 

Demonizing conservatives at this point is simply not helpful, there is a reason why they voted the way they voted. I have a lot of conservative friends and family who I love and respect and I get why they were not comfortable choosing Harris. I did not like her, I have never liked her, I did not find her to be a likable character and I cannot express how many people have spoken to that disliked her to a huge extent and were extremely turned off by her extreme lack of policy. That was not misogyny. It was personality, her track record, and a lack of substance. 

 

We must learn from this or we're destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over.

[Cryingdick]

13 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Oh please. I think this has to be an inflection point for the dems, there is much to be learned. I can't tell you the number of people that I've spoken with that tell me that the two biggest issues for them were the economy (and their perception that Biden was not doing much for the economy, which I tend to agree with) and the PC agenda. Especially trans rights, the fact that they had daughters who competed on teams that insisted on a man who decided to transition being allowed to use the same locker room even though his package was still intact. I don't think that as a Democrat we can overestimate the degree to which people were offended by that kind of policy. I could go on and on about the PC agenda and the extent to which it alienated tens of millions of folks, feeling like it was being crammed down their throats, how to speak, how to behave, and how to act.

 

I have to admit I am amongst those people, I am not a PC guy, I have not bought into the woke agenda, so I can relate. 

 

The other aspect of this is that Biden should have been forced to accept one term, and he should have been moved aside before he even made the decision to run again. It's not about deferring to an incumbent, it's about the survival of the party. 

 

My last thought is that after this massive failure the entire Democratic party apparatus should be dismantled, all the people in charge should be fired, and the party should be rebuilt from scratch from the ground up.

 

Demonizing conservatives at this point is simply not helpful, there is a reason why they voted the way they voted. I have a lot of conservative friends and family who I love and respect and I get why they were not comfortable choosing Harris. I did not like her, I have never liked her, I did not find her to be a likable character and I cannot express how many people have spoken to that disliked her to a huge extent and were extremely turned off by her extreme lack of policy. That was not misogyny. It was personality, her track record, and a lack of substance. 

 

We must learn from this or we're destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over.

 

Crazy people like you and (D)JT don't get to come back to the reservarion at will. Please wear your dunce cap and reflect upon how arrogant, condescending and enighted you have been until further notice. Thanks the management.

[spidermike007]

3 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

Crazy people like you and (D)JT don't get to come back to the reservarion at will. Please wear your dunce cap and reflect upon how arrogant, condescending and enighted you have been until further notice. Thanks the management.

The juvenile name calling continues. Go ahead, continue to diminish yourself. 

[Cryingdick]

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

The juvenile name calling continues. Go ahead, continue to diminish yourself. 

 

What did you expect a more reconciliatory tone now that your ship sank? What was the name calling except I made a pun on a user name? I did nothing more than ascribe to you the attributes you are known for. Enighted is an adjective not a name.

[NickyLouie]

7 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The juvenile name calling continues. Go ahead, continue to diminish yourself. 

 

Yet you voted for Kamala

22 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Oh please. I think this has to be an inflection point for the dems, there is much to be learned. I can't tell you the number of people that I've spoken with that tell me that the two biggest issues for them were the economy (and their perception that Biden was not doing much for the economy, which I tend to agree with) and the PC agenda. Especially trans rights, the fact that they had daughters who competed on teams that insisted on a man who decided to transition being allowed to use the same locker room even though his package was still intact. I don't think that as a Democrat we can overestimate the degree to which people were offended by that kind of policy. I could go on and on about the PC agenda and the extent to which it alienated tens of millions of folks, feeling like it was being crammed down their throats, how to speak, how to behave, and how to act.

 

I have to admit I am amongst those people, I am not a PC guy, I have not bought into the woke agenda, so I can relate. 

 

The other aspect of this is that Biden should have been forced to accept one term, and he should have been moved aside before he even made the decision to run again. It's not about deferring to an incumbent, it's about the survival of the party. 

 

My last thought is that after this massive failure the entire Democratic party apparatus should be dismantled, all the people in charge should be fired, and the party should be rebuilt from scratch from the ground up.

 

Demonizing conservatives at this point is simply not helpful, there is a reason why they voted the way they voted. I have a lot of conservative friends and family who I love and respect and I get why they were not comfortable choosing Harris. I did not like her, I have never liked her, I did not find her to be a likable character and I cannot express how many people have spoken to that disliked her to a huge extent and were extremely turned off by her extreme lack of policy. That was not misogyny. It was personality, her track record, and a lack of substance. 

 

We must learn from this or we're destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over.

 

Yet you voted for Kamala 

 

 

[JonnyF]

She lost because she refused to answer questions straight, lied about Trump, called people childish names, impersonated the people she was talking to with patronizing accents, supported men in women's toilets/sport, had no idea on the economy, was already proven weak on immigration, didn't take responsibility for her failures, was a terrible public speaker with a grating whiney voice and was deeply, deeply unlikeable.

 

Apart from that she wasn't too bad. 

 

 

[Elkski]

 

3 hours ago, NickyLouie said:

She lost because USA is racist and misogynistic.

 

 

 

 

 

I agree but also the new  legal immigrants and blacks were concerned that all these new illegals were going to take their jobs.  Trump really hammer this home.    The measurements of the economy are excellent but Biden and Harris should have really investigated these companies that had raised prices so much since COVID.  It was the company's price gouging that resulted in higher food prices.  It would have been hard to teach these "low information voters" that has prices are not under the presidents control.  I heard some republican complaining that Biden drew down the federal oil reserves and others complained about high pump prices.  Yes low information voter is the new descriptor of the deplorable trash who would vote for trump. 

[mdr224]

31 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Oh please. I think this has to be an inflection point for the dems, there is much to be learned. I can't tell you the number of people that I've spoken with that tell me that the two biggest issues for them were the economy (and their perception that Biden was not doing much for the economy, which I tend to agree with) and the PC agenda. Especially trans rights, the fact that they had daughters who competed on teams that insisted on a man who decided to transition being allowed to use the same locker room even though his package was still intact. I don't think that as a Democrat we can overestimate the degree to which people were offended by that kind of policy. I could go on and on about the PC agenda and the extent to which it alienated tens of millions of folks, feeling like it was being crammed down their throats, how to speak, how to behave, and how to act.

 

I have to admit I am amongst those people, I am not a PC guy, I have not bought into the woke agenda, so I can relate. 

 

The other aspect of this is that Biden should have been forced to accept one term, and he should have been moved aside before he even made the decision to run again. It's not about deferring to an incumbent, it's about the survival of the party. 

 

My last thought is that after this massive failure the entire Democratic party apparatus should be dismantled, all the people in charge should be fired, and the party should be rebuilt from scratch from the ground up.

 

Demonizing conservatives at this point is simply not helpful, there is a reason why they voted the way they voted. I have a lot of conservative friends and family who I love and respect and I get why they were not comfortable choosing Harris. I did not like her, I have never liked her, I did not find her to be a likable character and I cannot express how many people have spoken to that disliked her to a huge extent and were extremely turned off by her extreme lack of policy. That was not misogyny. It was personality, her track record, and a lack of substance. 

 

We must learn from this or we're destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over.

The fact you didnt mention trump in your post once says alot ive never seen that before

[NickyLouie]

2 minutes ago, Elkski said:

 

I agree but also the new  legal immigrants and blacks were concerned that all these new illegals were going to take their jobs.  Trump really hammer this home.    The measurements of the economy are excellent but Biden and Harris should have really investigated these companies that had raised prices so much since COVID.  It was the company's price gouging that resulted in higher food prices.  It would have been hard to teach these "low information voters" that has prices are not under the presidents control.  I heard some republican complaining that Biden drew down the federal oil reserves and others complained about high pump prices.  Yes low information voter is the new descriptor of the deplorable trash who would vote for trump. 

 

[Lacessit]

23 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

What did you expect a more reconciliatory tone now that your ship sank? What was the name calling except I made a pun on a user name? I did nothing more than ascribe to you the attributes you are known for. Enighted is an adjective not a name.

Enighted is not in any English dictionary.

 

I have no doubt you will be enlightened, when Trump's policies result in cuts to your Social Security and Medicare.

 

Then there's the reduction in purchasing power which will come with tax cuts and a tariff war, as sure as night follows day.

 

You voted for this, now you have it. Som nam na.

[Cryingdick]

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Enighted is not in any English dictionary.

 

I have no doubt you will be enlightened, when Trump's policies result in cuts to your Social Security and Medicare.

 

Then there's the reduction in purchasing power which will come with tax cuts and a tariff war, as sure as night follows day.

 

You voted for this, now you have it. Som nam na.

 

My keyboard isn't great the word should have been benighted. Sorry for the confusion.

[Cryingdick]

Just now, Cryingdick said:

 

My keyboard isn't great the word should have been benighted. Sorry for the confusion.

 

5 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Enighted is not in any English dictionary.

 

I have no doubt you will be enlightened, when Trump's policies result in cuts to your Social Security and Medicare.

 

Then there's the reduction in purchasing power which will come with tax cuts and a tariff war, as sure as night follows day.

 

You voted for this, now you have it. Som nam na.

 

I didn't vote for Trump. 

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, Cryingdick said:

 

 

I didn't vote for Trump. 

Strange. IIRC you have been quite vocal in your support of him.

 

 

[Cryingdick]

Just now, Lacessit said:

Strange. IIRC you have been quite vocal in your support of him.

 

 

 

Yes that is true. However I didn't vote for Trump or Harris. The only person more hated in the USA than Trump is Kamala specifically and the dems in general. People think it is only Trump that had ill will. The referendum ultimately was on Kamala and her band of freak fringe lunatc supporters.