Yesterday CNBC revealed Kamala’s strategy in a story headlined, “
Harris previews her Trump debate plan: ‘I think he’s gonna lie’.” That’s it! That’s the whole debate plan! She “thinks he’s gonna lie.” Ladies and gentlemen, this is the top professional produced by one of the two major political parties to run the world’s most powerful country.
Out of every other Democrat in the country, they delivered a skilled political player who produces deep thoughts like,
I think he’s gonna lie. Let’s just agree our Kamala is no Winston Churchill.
The reality is Democrats are desperately hoping just for a gaffe-free ‘debate.’ But they have several reasons to worry. Let us count the ways:
— Tonight will be only the second time that Vice-President Harris has dared speak live in public without a teleprompter since her selection. She has never proven any debating skills.
— To shield Joe from the mean Orange Man, Democrats insisted on a “quiet mic” policy, where only one candidate’s microphone is on at a time. They tried to change the rule for Kamala, but Trump’s team refused.
Politico said the muted mic problem has thrown Kamala’s debate strategy into disarray:
Apparently,
interrupting people with gotcha moments is Kamala’s trademark, rather than insightful policy or political acumen. She’s best known for waiting for a debate opponent to start talking then barking, “excuse me, I’m
speaking!”
This impolite ambushing through interruption is somehow referred to as being a “girl boss.” There’s a whole different post here about how
incivility forms the cornerstone of whatever being a “girl boss” is about. This type of drive-by incivility only works when the
other person remains constrained by civility. Otherwise the debate devolves into fisticuffs.
Anyway, thanks to the microphone policy, Kamala will be forced to argue her own case, rather than drafting behind President Trump’s comments while yipping and biting at his oratorical heels.
— Kamala is, shall we say,
not famous for successfully speaking contemporaneously or even coherently.
2023 Fox headline:
— Kamala performed poorly in the 2020 primary debates. Hardcore Kalama supporters defend her by pointing to the moments where she interrupted hyper-polite Mike Pence, a tactic which, as noted, isn’t on the boards for tonight.
—
A weekend New York Times/Siena poll of likely voters showed a Harris “stalling,” with Trump up +1 (48% to 47%). The Times somberly noted “the
risks … facing Ms. Harris on Tuesday night, when she and Mr. Trump will face off.” What risks?
Joe Biden’s numbers toppled into the polling pit of Hades after
his poor debate performance against President Trump. Kamala’s handlers worry the very same thing could happen to
her teetering numbers if she comes out looking un-Presidential.
The Democrats understand this debate is an inflection point for Kamala. There will be no do-overs. Headline from
this morning’s Hill:
“People are extremely anxious about her performance,” a democrat strategist quoted for the story said. “This is a make-or-break moment for Harris,” he explained. Another strategist said, “She has to get past this debate. It shouldn’t matter as much as it’s going to matter, but it does.”
No pressure!
The Siena/Times poll contained other troubling data points. Nearly half (47%) of likely voters labeled Kamala as being too liberal, versus only a third (32%) who think Trump is too conservative. Only 40% agreed Harris represented “change,” while 55% said she represented “more of the same.” On the other hand, Trump represents “change” to fully 61% of polled likely voters.
— Until this week, the Harris campaign team selected a deliberate strategy of staying vague about Kamala’s policy choices, as part of her basement campaign. But that created a vaccum, which is being filled
for her by others. CNN recently republished Kamala’s bizarre 2019 policies, including gimmes like free sex surgeries for illegal migrants, and
throwing the border wide open:
CLIP: CNN anchor expresses disbelief about Kamala’s 2019 platform (1:46).
The Cackle Campaign tried to clean up this problem by releasing a brand-new policy statement yesterday that sounded like it could have been written by the Republican National Committee. Tough on the border, with zero mention of transgender issues. Kamala has a lot to memorize by tonight.
— Finally, and maybe the biggest problem facing Kamala’s debate, is that expectations were set very high. Before
Joe’s debate, the headlines softened expectations, informing people that debates weren’t Joe’s strong suit, so all he had to do was not bomb.
Not so for Kamala. Until just the last couple days, corporate media emphasized Kamala’s relative youth and dynamism compared to the old man (Trump). Tellingly, they’re trying to walk it back this week. Debate prep must not be going well. But it’s too late.
Kamala could pull it off; she need only hold her own. But given the Times/Siena poll, holding her own probably won’t be enough to halt her stalling poll numbers. She needs a win, which seems unlikely. Remember, it’s 2024, so
anything could happen.
Your Trump-Kamala debate primer, plus updates on stuff that really isn't happening, or so corporate media assures us.
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