Kamala Harris’s 2020 campaign fell flat, and political observers criticized her campaigning as inept. She apparently learned from her mistakes, because four years later she’s grown as a campaigner. She ate Trump’s lunch in their debate, she’s campaigned on issues that resonate with voters, and she’s turned what seemed certain Democratic defeat into a horse race.
To get where she is now, she had to flipflop on numerous issues. Republicans are criticizing her for that, but they do it all the time. It’s nearly impossible to name a prominent GOP politician who didn’t go from harsh Trump critic to groveling Trump sycophant. It’s better that Harris changed her positions than followed Barry Goldwater’s path. He said, “I’d rather be right than president.”
A week from Election Day, Harris delivered what her campaign labeled a “closing argument” from the Ellipse (photo below), a big open space behind the White House often used for gatherings. It was from this space that Trump sent his mob to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Let’s assess how she did in this speech. Yahoo News (here) singled out key themes:
1. The contrast between her and Trump
Harris framed the election as “a choice about whether we have a country rooted in freedom for every American or ruled by chaos and division.” Many voters have focused on smaller things like gas and grocery prices, and need reminding that basic freedoms are at stake. By attacking our elections, and trying to overturn an election, Trump has strived to take away our most basic freedom: Choosing who leads us. If we lost that right, we’d soon lose all our other rights.
Trump’s first administration was chaotic. Those carrying out his plans in a second administration likely will be more organized, but that’s not a good thing, given what those plans are: They include political prosecutions, loosing the military on American citizens, and filling government with appointees loyal to him, not to the Constitution.
Trump may be the most divisive political figure in American history. He brings out the worst in people by appealing to base instincts of racism and violence, and by labeling opponents “enemies.” He’s promoted political intolerance, and given his followers permission to “punch them in the mouth.” Much recent decline in civility in American politics is attributable to him.
Harris pledged in her Ellipse speech to be “a president for all Americans.” She promised to “always listen to you, even if you don’t vote for me.” She said, “The fact that someone does not agree with us does not make them ‘the enemy within.’ As Americans, we rise and fall together.” Electing her, she said, is a way to “turn the page on the drama and the conflict, the fear and division.” These are the right words; a time to hold her to them will come later.
2. Abortion
Most Americans want abortion rights, and don’t want government policing pregnancies, hounding doctors, or interfering in health decisions. Even in red states, voters are passing abortion rights. The issue is a major liability for GOP candidates, especially among suburban women. So it’s natural that Harris talked about it in her “closing argument.” She warned Trump will “ban abortion nationwide,” restrict access to birth control, put IVF treatments at risk, and “force states to monitor womens’ pregnancies.” That’s not what Trump is saying, and she’ll be fact-checked and accused of exaggerating. But can you trust Trump?
3. Immigration
Republicans at Trump’s urging blocked the bipartisan border security bill that would have increased funding for border agents, border security technology, and intercepting drugs at border crossings. Harris will try to push it through Congress as unfinished business. She also said she’ll work with Congress to “pass immigration reform, including an earned path to citizenship for hard-working immigrants like farm workers and our Dreamers.” This is a rational approach.
Trump’s approach has been to foment unreasoning hatred of immigrants. His running mate, J. D. Vance, spread vicious lies about legal Haitian workers that resulted in bomb threats and school closures. Trump and his party have demonized immigrants, turned them into a political piñata, and he’s threatening to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to deport all of them, which would deprive our economy of several million necessary workers.
Where does that leave us?
Harris has been criticized for being vague about her policies. The criticism is fair, but irrelevant. This election is about tone and behavior. There’ll be time enough later to assess her adequacy in office.
We don’t know if Harris will be a successful president; she’s still, in many ways, a work in progress. But importantly, she has shown an ability to grow. The contrast between her and Trump’s immigration positions illustrate the larger point: She’s rational, he’s not. She’s thoughtful, he’s not. She’ll make government normal again; he’ll use it as a weapon against anyone who displeases him.
Never in our lifetimes have America’s voters had a clearer choice between decent and indecent, rational and irrational, competent and incompetent, law respecting and lawless. Harris is saying the right things; Trump is the same old hatemongering demagogue he always was. Given that, it’s inexplicable that this race is close.
