As the 2024 election approaches, the Democratic Party has been increasingly anxious about its prospects. President Joe Biden, after months of trying to calm the growing concerns within his party, eventually decided to step back from his re-election campaign. This decision followed months of rising panic that seemed to overwhelm him. His withdrawal, however, temporarily eased the anxiety. The concern shifted towards Vice President Kamala Harris, who took over the ticket, and her initial surge in poll numbers provided some relief to Democrats.
However, Harris’ numbers have stagnated, and the party’s fears are creeping back. Many Democrats are once again worrying that the election may slip away and that former President Donald Trump could potentially regain power. Despite this, Harris appears to be managing the collective anxiety strategically. She seems to understand that fear of losing may motivate Democrats to turn out in greater numbers on Election Day. She often tells her supporters that she is running as if she’s behind in the race, a tactic aimed at keeping enthusiasm high.
At the same time, Harris is facing fresh internal criticism, with party activists voicing their concerns that she isn’t holding enough rallies. For weeks, these same critics had complained that she wasn’t conducting enough interviews, leading to speculation about her campaign strategy. On the other side, Trump continues to suggest that he’s ahead, often claiming that any loss would be the result of Democratic interference. His assertions seem less about strategy and more about protecting his image. Trump has built his public persona around success and winning, so admitting he’s losing would be a direct challenge to that identity.
Trump’s need to project an image of victory is deeply personal. Over the years, he has meticulously crafted an image of himself as a winner. Whether in business, television, or politics, Trump thrives on the perception of success. This is why he continues to tout his victories, whether real or perceived, including his participation in golf tournaments and high TV ratings. In politics, he has never conceded that he lost the 2020 election, claiming, without evidence, that he was the rightful winner. For Trump, portraying himself as a losing candidate, especially against an opponent he has often dismissed as incompetent, is unthinkable.
In reality, the election remains a toss-up. Less than three weeks before Election Day, neither Harris nor Trump has established a clear lead. Polls show the race is extremely close, with neither candidate gaining a significant advantage. After Harris replaced Biden on the ticket, she managed to erase his polling deficit, but the race has since stabilized into a tight contest. The close nature of the race is driving Harris to motivate her base. Democratic pollsters and strategists have pointed out that Harris is not performing as well as previous Democratic candidates, like Hillary Clinton in 2016 or Joe Biden in 2020, among key voter groups.
John McLaughlin, a pollster for Trump, dismissed claims that Harris is an underdog, suggesting that it’s a tactic by Democrats to lull Trump’s side into complacency. He noted that Democrats have tried similar strategies in past elections, and they either won or narrowly lost. While it may serve Harris to downplay expectations of victory, Democratic strategists believe there are shortcomings in her campaign. Some argue that she needs to hold more rallies and show more spontaneity to connect with voters.
In response to earlier criticism, Harris has increased her media presence, participating in more interviews with both news outlets and entertainment platforms. This comes after concerns that her campaign was too insular, leading to limited engagement with the media. For instance, she recently appeared on Fox News, known for its critical stance on Democrats, to engage in a challenging interview. Harris has also participated in smaller, more personal campaign events, such as speaking at a church in Greenville, North Carolina, and visiting local businesses in Detroit. These intimate gatherings allow her to connect with voters on a personal level, a necessary move as her campaign works to energize its base.
Despite these efforts, some Democrats still feel her campaign appearances lack the energy and authenticity that voters desire. A member of Congress expressed that Harris needs to show more emotion and passion, comparing her to Trump, who, while seen as unpredictable, often comes across as genuine. According to the lawmaker, Harris must demonstrate that she is genuinely fighting for the presidency.
Harris has held several rallies in recent days, including in key battleground states like North Carolina and Pennsylvania. These events are part of a broader effort to secure the so-called “blue wall” states, which Democrats believe are crucial to winning the election. Her campaign has scheduled additional rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan, which are part of the Democratic strategy to build a path to victory. In Michigan, Harris has planned multiple events, before heading to Georgia, a battleground state that Biden narrowly won in 2020.
In today’s political environment, candidates have numerous ways to reach undecided voters, and Harris’ campaign has the financial resources to explore them. With over $1 billion raised, her team is employing innovative strategies to connect with voters. For example, the campaign has invested in advertising on unconventional platforms, such as gaming websites, to reach younger voters who may not follow traditional political news. The campaign’s goal is to reach voters wherever they are, whether in their communities or on their social media feeds.
David Plouffe, a former advisor to Barack Obama and now working with the Harris campaign, emphasized the importance of reaching voters through multiple channels. He explained that modern voters receive information from a variety of sources, so the campaign must be present in all those spaces to be effective. Plouffe also highlighted that Harris and vice presidential nominee Tim Walz are committed to engaging with audiences in crucial electoral areas to win the election.
Traditional campaign rallies, though perhaps considered old-fashioned by some, still serve an important role. They not only attract media attention but also help to organize and energize voters. At one of Harris’ recent rallies in Greenville, North Carolina, Democratic volunteers moved through the crowd, recruiting people to knock on doors and make phone calls to potential voters. These organizing efforts are essential in a tight race where turnout could make the difference.
Despite the strategic importance of rallies, some Democratic strategists have expressed frustration that Harris hasn’t been holding enough events. One strategist called the lack of rallies a “head-scratcher,” arguing that Harris should be doing multiple events daily in key states like Pennsylvania. The strategist emphasized that party members are ready to work hard, but they expect Harris to match that effort on the campaign trail.
A look back at Barack Obama’s campaign schedule during the 2008 election shows the effectiveness of holding numerous rallies in the final weeks before Election Day. In early October 2008, just weeks before the election, Obama held several rallies each day in crucial battleground states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, helping to build momentum and energize his supporters. His aggressive campaign schedule contributed to his victory in those states and his eventual election as president.
In contrast, Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016 took a different approach. With a comfortable lead in the polls, Clinton kept a lighter schedule in the final weeks before the election. Instead of holding rallies, she spent time at fundraising events and appeared on entertainment shows like “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” This strategy may have contributed to her eventual loss, as she failed to maintain the same level of engagement with voters as Obama had in 2008.
As the 2024 election draws closer, Harris faces mounting pressure to energize the Democratic base and maintain her momentum in the race against Trump. While she has increased her media presence and participated in more campaign events, some within her party believe she still needs to do more to connect with voters and demonstrate her commitment to winning the election. With the race still too close to call, every decision Harris makes in the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the outcome.
In the final stretch of the campaign, Harris will continue to focus on key battleground states, hold more rallies, and find ways to connect with undecided voters. Whether she can overcome the criticisms and rally the Democratic base to victory remains to be seen, but her team is betting that a combination of traditional campaign methods and innovative outreach strategies will ultimately secure a win.
