Kamala Harris, Vice President and staunch Democratic Party advocate, has planned a trip to Wisconsin. This travel forms part of a greater scramble across ‘blue wall’ battleground states, specifically Pennsylvania and Michigan. Whilst the campaign has confirmed its itinerary for the forthcoming week, no further details have been revealed. It seems that specifics about this tour are being guarded tightly, almost as if they fear their plans might not survive in the harsh light of day.
Remaining on the go, Harris will engage in what’s known as a ‘fireside chat’. This cozy term belies the true location, the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia, where the event will take place. The content of this discussion? Only Harris and her carefully selected journalists know, as details remain cryptic. This mystery chat is scheduled for Tuesday, and the busy Vice President has more events following in quick succession.
A ‘Unite for America’ livestream event, featuring media mogul Oprah Winfrey, will occur on Thursday in Michigan. While it might seem noteworthy to align with a celebrity like Oprah in theory, in practice it merely exemplifies the typical celebrity adoration that appears to take precedence over policy conversation in the Democratic campaign. This culminates in the Friday visit to Wisconsin which seems to be the cherry on top of her campaign tour sundae.
The ‘New Way Forward’ tour is an episodic repeat of campaign mantra, following what appears to be the only scheduled debate between Harris and Donald Trump, the former President and Republican counterpart. Whether this ‘New Way Forward’ is indeed new or forward-moving remains to be seen, as specifics are again withheld. The campaign’s promise, to host events ‘in every media market in every key battleground state in just four days,’ is certainly bold.
Harris has competition in Wisconsin, as JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, is also set for a return to the state next week. Vance has planned a campaign stop on Tuesday in Eau Claire. This will be his second visit to the locale – a borderline obsessive fifth trip to the state since former President Trump chose him as his running mate earlier in July during the Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee.
In an interesting twist of events, Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, appears to be usurping the limelight. His recent campaign in Wausau on Friday and anticipation for an upcoming rally in Superior on Saturday almost makes one forget about the Vice President herself. Certainly it seems odd that the VP appears to be playing second fiddle to her own running mate.
The most recent Marquette University Law School poll was released Wednesday, it showed Harris with a paltry lead of four points over Trump. Yet this four-point lead raises questions rather than answers, considering Harris and Walz’ fervent hustling to and fro across the country. Regardless, these numbers can be as fickle as the winds of political favor and certainly cannot be considered a definitive forecast of success.
Intriguingly, while Harris claimed a marginal victory on this particular poll, the most enthusiastic voters chose her for the first time. Trump, in comparison, prevailed when Joe Biden was around, and even during the initial phase of Harris’ campaign. Could this be due to a lackluster portrayal by Harris or reflective of her inability to truly rally the base until pushed into the spotlight?
However, the poll wasn’t only about Harris and Trump. In a surprising turn of events, Walz managed to secure a net positive favorability rating. No other candidate, including third-party competitors, had such an outcome. It seems like someone else’s popularity might be riding on the coattails of this poll, rather than the individual who was initially projected to be at the pinnacle of the ticket.
Contrastingly, both Trump and Harris were reported to have net negative favorability ratings. Perhaps the Vice President should focus less on unveiling her procession of events and focus more on securing the public’s trust. It remains to be seen whether these unfavorable viewpoints will change in the future.
Harris’ last rally in the state of Wisconsin was recorded on August 20 at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. Her appearance was notably orchestrated alongside Walz, serving as a possible pivot in campaign strategy during the Democratic National Convention’s poignant second night. The underlying question is still, amid all their conspicuous attempts, will they be able to hold on to this lead?
Considerably, the path of this campaign trip remains mystifying. From mysterious ‘fireside chats’ to celebrity endorsements, the Democratic Party is making an earnest attempt to wrest control of the narrative. However, with a scant lead and negative favorability rating, real questions are beginning to emerge about the strength of their ticket and the effectiveness of their plans.
In the theatrics of the ‘blue wall’ battlegrounds, it’s clear that each move is designed to be a strategic leap forward for the Democratic campaign. Yet, Harris and Walz seem preoccupied with engagements that steer clear of any detailed policy discussions. Is this a deliberate attempt to sidestep intricate conversations, or merely a reflection of their campaign guidance?
Regardless of how the campaign spins these events, the reality remains that competing with JD Vance and the Republicans will be an uphill battle for Harris. Amid unfavorable ratings and other obstacles, how these events will play into the broader election narrative is anyone’s guess.
The true test of this spectacle of a campaign tour will be its overall result. Will it succeed in securing broader voter bases, or will it flounder in its attempts of persuasion? These answers will determine much more than the fate of these events; they will indicate the possible direction for the entire campaign.
Ultimately, while the Vice President’s travels and celebrity collaborations might hold novelty value, the more profound concerns remain. Will these tactics defy the negative favorability ratings, or will the underlying reality of public sentiment ultimately render them futile? One can only wait and watch as the spectacle unfold, hopeful that the complexities and concerns surrounding this campaign will be unequivocally addressed.