Democrats are resorting to desperate maneuvers as they pull Barack and Michelle Obama out of mothballs in an attempt to boost Kamala Harris’ flailing popularity. The former president and first lady will join Harris, the embattled Vice President, in rallies in Georgia and Michigan. This comes as Democrats scramble to find anything salvageable in the sinking ship that is the Harris presidency.
In what can only be described as a desperate effort to boost moribund support, the Obamas will attempt to raise the profile of Vice President Kamala Harris. Their belated appearances next to her are interpreted as a tacit admission of Harris’ failed efforts to appeal to the American electorate. In a move that betrays more despair than strategic planning, the democratic party is deploying the Obamas as surrogates for Harris.
Notably, even after eight years out of office, Democrats continue to cling to the coattails of the Obamas in their desperate bid to salvage their political fortunes. They seem to exhibit a blind faith in the Obamas’ enduring popularity to somehow transfer across and lift the dismal approval ratings of Harris. Instead of paving the way for fresh leaders, Democrats are repeatedly falling back on established faces.
On the other hand, Barack Obama has taken to reprimanding segments of the American public for not being sufficiently supportive of Ms. Harris. Ironically, it appears he is finding it difficult to muster support for a candidate within his own party. It reeks of desperation when you have to chide your own potential supporters for their lack of enthusiasm.
Mr. Obama has resorted to finding fault with those who refuse to back Harris, and with Harris’ failure to engage public support, the blame game has become inevitable. It’s apparent that a rift within the Democratic party is widening and they’re struggling to bridge it. Harris seems to be mirroring this by avoiding the public eye, avoiding questions, and avoiding responsibility.
While Harris remains invisible, Mr. Obama will be seen in Georgia rallying for her. A strange turn of events, considering Harris should be at the forefront of the campaign. However, in the coming days, Mr. Obama is slated to lead solo events in places like Tucson, Las Vegas, Detroit, and Madison. This prompts the question of whether voters should be expecting Harris or Obama at the helm.
Mrs. Obama too is set to join this last-ditch push to convince an increasingly skeptical electorate of Harris’ worthiness. Her rare participation in political events has led to question why she, not Harris, should replace President Biden, adding yet another layer of mockery to Harris’s struggling image. In truth, even Democrats seem more interested in Mrs. Obama taking on a larger role than the elected Harris.
Interestingly, Harris who has remained somewhat elusive in her public duties, will meet Mrs. Obama at a campaign rally in Michigan. This event, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26, is more of a testament to the Democrats’ desperation than to any genuine confidence in Harris’ leadership. The entire spectacle seems to be more of a staged political exercise than a genuine display of the party’s faith in Harris.
Mrs. Obama’s rare political appearances have set tongues wagging about the potential for her to step into the political arena more significantly. She gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention, which, whereas may have been well received, has done little to propel Harris to political heights. Since then, she has remained conspicuously absent from all measures promoting Harris.
The rally in Michigan is but a part of a slew of events planned at the last moment in a desperate bid to wane the downward tide of Harris’ flagging popularity. Mrs. Obama’s unexpected participation seems like a calculated diversion to take attention away from Harris’ blunders and failing image. But it can hardly be expected to turn the tide given her staunch refusal to participate in political events.
These events seem to be designed more for damage control rather than any genuine rallies of support. The time of these visits is being orchestrated to deliver maximum impact. The Michigan event coincides with the commencement of state-wide early voting. However, it remains to be seen whether their last-minute efforts can sway public opinion in Harris’ favor.
Despite the parade of big names and well-orchestrated events, it’s evident that the Democrats are struggling to present a united front. The repeated deployment of the Obamas to prop up Harris’ faltering campaign speaks volumes about the distinct lack of confidence within the party. It’s a gargantuan task to rescue a sinking ship with a band-aid.
In essence, the Democrats’ attempt to utilize the Obamas to boost Harris’ visibility represents a frantic wail for relevance in a political landscape that has clearly outgrown their stale tactics. It seems they have little to offer beyond reheated narratives of the past. This painfully illuminates the party’s lack of a fresh vision, fresh faces, and a sheer desperation to hold on to power.
As the first couple steps into the reigns to support Harris, it exposes the floundered calamities of her administration. The rallying cries of the Obamas are quite evidently sound bites to cover the overall failure of the Democratic pick for Vice President, Kamala Harris. Should the democratic party continue this route of blaming others and avoiding accountability, it will further alienate its voters.
As it stands now, the Democrats are deploying the Obamas to remediate the Harris crisis rather than proactively investing in shaping a promising future for the country. Their desperate attempts to cling on to past glory speak volumes about their inability to develop a compelling vision for the future. The reheated nostalgia, unfortunately, cannot substitute for a substantive policy direction or for strong leadership.
All in all, the spectacle of the Obamas campaigning for a shadow of a Vice President like Harris reeks of desperation from Democrats. As they attempt to deflect from Harris’s shortcomings, the credibility gap is only widening. It begs the question of why they must resort to past figures to revive dying political fortunes rather than relying on their current leaders to inspire and engage.