The 2024 presidential election, anticipated to be a heated contest in many circles, saw a determined triumph by President Donald Trump. He secured an impressive 312 electoral votes along with the popular vote. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who inherited the Democrat nomination following ex-President Joe Biden’s departure from the race, was utterly confounded at the electoral upset.
A newly released book delves into the Harris campaign’s state of affairs, as well as the surprising decision of Biden to retreat from the race. It presents a vivid picture of disbelief and disarray in the Harris camp after their resounding defeat to Trump. This level of shock was particularly high, given the polls had been forecasting a very tight competition.
The book provides a gripping account of the aftermath of the results. It describes a hushed hotel room where a stunned Harris grapples with her unexpected loss. The authors underscore how Harris found herself doubting the election results, hinting at a lack of understanding or possibly refusing to accept reality.
In the aftermath of the election, ‘Are you sure? Have we performed a recount? Should we arrange a recount?’ were among Harris’s bewildered inquiries. The story painted by the authors is one of deep dismay and a palpable sense of being deceived by those directing the campaign. The book indicates that reliance on ‘vibes’ to measure voter sentiment was a peculiar aspect of Harris and her team’s strategy.
The authors also express the widespread belief that Biden’s decision to run for re-election and his selection of Harris were significant missteps. Additional assertions made in the book signify that ex-President Barack Obama held little confidence in either Biden or Harris, albeit for diverse reasons.
Despite her stunning defeat, Harris has yet to publicly declare whether she will throw her hat in the ring for future political races. Media speculation, however, suggests she may be weighing a run for the governorship of California in 2026.
Surveys suggest that if she did decide to stand for office again, she might be the favorite to pick up the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2028. Even after the blow of her defeat in the election, she has managed to maintain a noticeable presence on social media, sharing various pre-recorded speeches from different forums.
Her speeches and posts, exhibiting a veneer of optimism and democracy, were nevertheless marked by an underlying sense of the turmoil felt by the nation. In an instance that could be perceived as an attempt at saving face, Harris was awarded the NAACP Chairman’s Award in 2025 and delivered a speech deemed ‘inspirational’ by some.
Harris’s words echo the uncertainty faced by Americans, a reflection of her own political journey. More ambitiously, Harris seems to have embarked on writing tasks more suited to the study than the campaign trail. She is reportedly crafting an extensive speech to be delivered in the coming months and also working on a manuscript for a book.
The former Vice President’s continued public appearances and literary endeavors are sparking off speculations about her political ambitions. One such speculative occasion was her unexpected attendance at a women’s leadership conference staged in California. While the conference was a platform for Harris to reestablish her credibility, her pretty obvious attempts to project confidence were seen by some as a somewhat desperate measure.
Among the things Harris communicated at the conference was the claim ‘There were many things that we knew would happen.’ In an interesting twist of words, she added, ‘I’m not here to say I told you so! I swore I wasn’t gonna say that!’ A display of stubborn optimism or a failed attempt at faux humility, one could argue.
In summary, the recent book releases shocking revelations on the events surrounding the 2024 elections, from Biden’s unexpected exit to Harris’s shocking defeat. Its contents unveil a picture of disbelief and denial, emphasizing the serious missteps taken by both Biden in his reelection attempt and Harris in her campaign approach.
The book also underscores Obama’s alleged lack of faith in Biden and Harris – an opinion that seemed to be similarly reflected in the ultimate election results. In the wake of her loss, Harris’s actions and undertakings have stirred speculation rather than assurances about her plans for political reengagement.
In lieu of officially announcing plans to run for future office, Harris seems to be biding her time, carefully curating her public image through speeches and social media appearances. Undoubtedly, her political journey remains one to observe with interest, the road ahead freighted with questions and uncertainty.
Her speeches veer towards themes of hope and democracy, but many see her attempts as futile for the residual disbelief still held by many in the aftermath of the elections. The future for Kamala Harris remains uncertain, but her current endeavors are a clear attempt at rebuilding the image that took quite the hit during the election.