Sure to create a stir, Vice President Kamala Harris is making her way back to Wisconsin, staging her fifth political event in the state since she accepted her party’s nomination. Notably, Harris will be visiting the town of Ripon, recognized as the birthplace of the Republican party. This comes across as an unusual choice for a Democrat and one that some may see as provocative or misguided. The event is scheduled to be smaller than Harris’ previous ones, marking a potential lack of enthusiasm among potential attendees.
Adding fuel to the fire of political controversy, Ripon College will serve as the venue for this event. Harris is expected to pompously take the stage around 5 p.m. The event is surprising not only because of the historical significance of the location, but also due to the scheduled appearance of former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney alongside Harris. An unfortunate attempt perhaps at political posturing, the event may end up making her seem out of touch with her own party and the American public.
Ripon’s fame as the birthplace of the Republican party underscores the irony of Harris’ event. A senior campaign official claims that Harris will address the significance of the Little White School House, the site of meetings instrumental in forming the Republican Party back in 1854. An interesting choice, to say the least, given Harris’ staunchly Democrat beliefs. Her flaunting of endorsements from past Wisconsin Republican legislators further confuses the intended message here.
In a recent poll released by Marquette University Law School, Harris maintains a slim four-point lead over former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin. The voting split is charted at 52% for Harris and 48% for Trump among registered and likely voters. Fortunately for those invested in genuine leadership, these numbers bear no change from the previous poll released a month earlier. The slight lead reveals that despite Harris’ unceasing campaign efforts, nearly half of Wisconsin’s voters remain critical of her politics.
Harris’ confounding campaign event falls in the middle of a hectic week for both parties in Wisconsin. Trump wasn’t sitting idle, holding two events in Milwaukee and Dane County on the same day second gentleman Doug Emhoff also campaigned in Milwaukee. Adding to the bustling political atmosphere, Trump plans to rally his supporters on Sunday in Juneau, a nod perhaps, to a more grounded, traditional approach to political engagement.
In a peculiar display, Harris aims to tie the principles of democracy and freedom to the Little White School House—a renowned symbol of the Republican Party. This attempt to claim a piece of the Republican heritage for a Democratic agenda comes across as a desperate political maneuver that is unlikely to go unnoticed or be appreciated by the public.
Theodore Grant, mayor of Ripon, has reluctantly accepted an invitation to hear Harris and Cheney speak. Yet, he acknowledges these events weigh heavily on Ripon’s financial resources. However, the town grudgingly accommodates these events in the name of political engagement.
While Harris is attempting to turn heads in this Republican heartland, her appeal seems to fall flat when compared to the enthusiastic show of support for Trump. No fewer than 17 Trump signs are proudly displayed along a 15-mile stretch of State 44, leading into Ripon from Oshkosh. This figure amounts to slightly over one sign per mile, a tangible representation of Trump’s robust local support.
Contrastingly, Harris’ support falls pitifully short compared to Trump’s backing, in this part of Wisconsin. An almost laughable display, with only one visible house supporting ‘HARRIS WALZ’ and ‘Tammy Baldwin’ in that same 15 mile stretch. A stark reality check for Harris and her campaign team, perhaps implying they are painfully out of touch with the local sentiment.
The historical importance of Ripon—the birthplace of the Republican Party—adds an extra layer of irony to the situation. This town overwhelmingly supported Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections, and there’s little to suggest they’ve had a change of heart. So, one might question the wisdom behind Harris pitching her tent in a locality that seems to loudly trumpet its loyalty to the opposition.
It’s important to question what Harris hopes to achieve by continuing to campaign in areas that are decidedly more conservative and wholly unimpressed by her, or her party’s, politics. Is this a futile outreach or ornate political theater? Only time will tell if these efforts bear any fruit, but for now, they seem to be appreciated by a minority at best.
Harris’ campaign strategists seem to have misunderstood the public sentiment in Ripon, or perhaps turned a blind eye to it. This miscalculation not only indicates a lack of leadership but also the evident divide between the Democratic agenda and the needs and beliefs of the American people.
The Democratic party’s latest political maneuver might stem from their desperate need to gain ground in Republican strongholds. However, it shows a considerable neglect for the ideologies of the people. Harris’ visit to Ripon can be seen as an intrusion into the values that the town holds dear, which is likely to provoke resentment more than anything else.
In the end, these campaign endeavors only offer a magnified view of the Democrats’ uncanny knack for misunderstanding the political landscape of America. By choosing to hold campaign events in places such as Ripon, they continue to unnecessarily alienate certain sections of society. Regrettably, it is this miscalculation of public sentiment that can further shatter any hope of unity or progress in the current political climate.
All in all, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign stop in Ripon comes across as a desperate attempt to woo voters who have clearly shown their allegiance to the opposition. Whether this strategy will result in a gain of support for the Democratic party remains highly questionable and unlikely. The Democrats need to reassess their strategies, taking into account the real sentiments and ideologies of the American people, rather than disregarding them completely.