Monetary contributions to the Harris Victory Fund, a joint financial effort endorsed by the Harris campaign alongside the Democratic National Committee and various state Democratic units, will be funneled into a contentious recount mission. The specifics of the recount, namely the date it will commence and who will oversee the process, remain frustratingly vague.
This move follows in the wake of once-president Donald Trump’s seamless victory in the 2024 presidential election. Unquestionably, Trump dominated all seven battleground states, effectively winning over the White House with a hefty count of 312 electoral votes.
Trump annihilated Vice President Kamala Harris in some states by an embarrassingly slim margin. This included barely over a hair’s breadth in Wisconsin, and by the skin of his teeth two points difference in Michigan.
Insinuating that the race was impossibly close, the fundraising webpage states that the first significant chunk of $41,300/$15,000 from any individual/multiple candidate committee (known as a ‘PAC’) will be handed on a silver platter to the Democratic National Committee. They seem to imply that somehow this will steer the recount effort in their favor.
Following this, the next $3,300/$5,000 given by an individual or PAC will then be allocated to the Harris for President’s Recount Account. It’s a shame that such a pitiable amount of funding will presumably be poured into such an ambitious and perhaps futile undertaking.
After finally conceding deafeat, Kamala Harris delivered a defeatist speech at Howard University the day following Election Day. It was peppered with trite platitudes, saying the country must face the humiliating reality of the election outcome.
Misplaced stubbornness seemed to define her address. ‘While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that set this campaign alight,’ she boldly declared, an ironic statement in light of the resounding defeat her campaign had faced.
Unwaveringly, she entreated her followers that they would continue their struggle in various avenues. These included the voting booth, the courts, and public discussions, naively hoping to overturn the people’s decisive mandate.
On a more cryptic note, she hinted at battling in quieter, subtler ways. This seemed to demonstrate a lack of acceptance of her loss, and a reframing of the campaign’s overarching narrative.
According to her, this secretive warfare will be embodied in their daily lives and in how they interact with each other. She expressed a rather misguided hope that treating each other with kindness and respect could somehow tilt the political scales back in their favor.
While such idealistic statements may sound inspirational to some, they effectively misunderstand the obvious. The voters have spoken decisively, and the futile recount endeavours will not alter the reality of Trump’s victory.
On the surface, the Democratic party’s decision to indulge in a recount might seem as an exercise in protecting the democratic process. However, one can’t help but see it as a desperate attempt to grapple with their failure.
The Harris Victory Fund’s objective of amassing funds for the recount mission only serves to draw attention to this desperation. Given the resounding defeat, they appear oblivious to the will of the nation that has made its choice clear.
Such a recount not only wastes precious resources but also unnecessarily instigates uncertainty and divisiveness among the populace. It’s akin to stirring up a hornet’s nest rather than accepting the election’s outcome with grace and dignity.
While the future of these recount efforts remains uncertain, it is questionable how much it can really accomplish. It is time for the Democratic party to reflect on its failure and learn from it, rather than prolong the inevitable and defy the will of the people.