The unfolding of the 2024 presidential campaign displayed an unexpected turn of events. The spectral presence of Valone, Saracco, and Brock signified a shift in the political atmosphere, an indistinct hope that hinted towards a potential downfall of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Interestingly, some of those leaning towards the left began gravitating towards this change, hoping for Harris to fill in the gaping void dug by Biden’s rapidly diminishing popularity. Yet, Harris’ attempt to capitalize on this opportunity by attracting funds and media attention smacks of desperation rather than strategic positioning, especially after Biden’s public debacle at the debate.
Biden, baited earlier by the desperate hope that his campaign will attract those disillusioned with their options due to a shared dispute with Trump, made a gambit. It turned out to be a misguided bet, mirroring his misguided governance, evidenced by his hastened downfall following the 27th June debate debacle. What followed next was Harris trying to steer this sinking ship towards a seemingly successful campaign. The belief of treading on unknown terrain where Biden’s and Trump’s fame had fuelled widespread resentment was foolhardy at best.
Not many know much about Kamala Harris, a fact the team hopes to spin into a surprise factor. Expectations are riding high on reintroducing Harris to the American voters before the upcoming Democratic National Convention. The aim is to evoke excitement about this ‘new’ choice, yet the skepticism persists. The underlying disdain for both the candidates still lurks within the ‘double haters’, a term used for voters who view both the contenders with unhidden animosity.
Moreover, the change does not completely negate the presence of ‘double haters’, but unjustifiably presents Harris with a chance to woo an array of voters, particularly those repulsed by Trump. A set of mixed feelings dominates the disenchanted constituents, some disappointed with both while others lean towards a certain ideology. The linchpin for such voters like Saracco is Biden’s age, an issue which was validated by his debate performance. For some time now, the skepticism surrounding Biden has been far from quiescent.
Americans had cast aside their optimism about a possible rematch between Biden and Trump months ago. A surprising revelation from an AP-NORC poll conducted a year into Biden’s reign shows that seven out of ten Americans, inclusive of half the Democrats, firmly negated Biden’s potential second term bid. Also, a similar majority didn’t want Trump to run for president again, as captured by the same poll conducted in January 2022.
Dissatisfaction over Biden’s poor presidential performance pervaded all areas of administration. His approval rating declined drastically by nearly 20 percentage points, as recorded by the January 2022 survey. Though Biden still managed to maintain a favorable opinion among half of the population, the lowering trend insinuated an upcoming crisis that he failed to avert.
In stark contrast to Biden’s waning popularity, Trump managed to hold the enthusiasm among many Republicans as the primaries got wrapped up, while Biden was losing ground with ordinary Democrats. As per a July AP-NORC poll just before Biden’s withdrawal, only four in ten Democrats expressed their satisfaction with Biden while about six in ten Republicans approved of Trump. Recent numbers also depict that two-thirds of Democrats believe Biden should drop out.
Democratic voters interviewed by AP reiterated the broader frustrations over the two-party system and its regrettable election choices. They questioned the logic of having aged presidential candidates from an enormous pool of people. A palpable disbelief surrounded the handing over of the party to Trump on the Republican side while incredulity prevailed about the foresight of Democrats in leading up to an uninspired electoral event.
Surprisingly, the newly formed dynamics remained uncertain but offered momentary respite from the dread of the Biden-Trump face-off. Polls reflected that fewer voters had unfavorable opinions, primarily because of the fading negativity towards Harris as compared to Biden. On the other hand, there’s a slight enhancement in the favorability of Trump according to the same polls. However, the Republicans are optimistic about undermining any shift in public opinion by equating Harris with the failures of Biden’s administration.
Republicans are ready for an assault, intending to portray Harris as a continuation of Biden’s disappointing record, especially on consumer prices and immigration. They also plan on undermining her personal brand. Yet Harris and her supporting Democrats eye an opportunity to counterattack. The race dynamics, however, still remain unpredictable.
Considering that Harris is less known in comparison to either Trump or Biden, provides her an opportunity. Jen O’Malley Dillon, a Democrat, had a somewhat positive perspective. She wrote that while the Vice President is well-known, it’s particularly among Dem-leaning groups that she’s less familiar. Double haters are projected to still have a role in the November votes according to Republican pollster Neil Newhouse.
Another GOP pollster, Whit Ayres, suggested that the independent double-hatred voters might lean towards any side based on the campaign’s messaging. Kathryn Kabat, a 69-year-old voter from North Carolina, has decided whom to support. Having initially planned to vote for Biden, the retired Air Force captain continued with her intention despite his challenging debate performance.
Kabat expressed her fears about losing Biden and potentially enduring a second term of Trump, which according to her is not affordable. But now, she’s not only a confirmed Harris voter but a supporter as well. ‘I’m sending postcards from home, and I’ll do whatever else I can,’ she said, hinting at a hopeful personal contribution. However, the baseless optimism might barely scrape surface at adding some votes.