# Kamala Harris and the runup to the 2024 Presidential Election {No more on Guns} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** kamala-harris\ **Created:** [July 22, 2024, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571 "2024-07-22T00:39:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 99
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1984 "2024-10-25T15:00:46Z")
44 hits the campaign trail once more: > **[Analysis: Obama again feels the ‘fierce urgency of now’ as Trump eyes return...](https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/25/politics/obama-harris-springsteen-election-analysis/index.html)** > > The band was back together Thursday night, in Georgia. Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen were trying to push Democratic nominee Kamala Harris over the line in the critical swing state. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1985 "2024-10-25T17:38:26Z")
More good news for Kamala: CNN reports that 19% of voters who disapprove of Biden are supporting her. George Bush Sr. won only 11% of the votes of folks who disapproved of Reagan, yet won 1988 anyway in a landslide. Al Gore won only 9% of votes who disapproved of Clinton, yet came within a whisker of winning in 2000. So this is extremely strong news for Kamala. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1986 "2024-10-25T18:34:40Z")
Apparently, the Washington Post editorial board was preparing to issue an endorsement of Harris, and Jeff Bezos (who owns the Post) killed it. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1987 "2024-10-25T18:48:35Z")
Yes, the I notice got via email was that the WashPost was “returning to their longstanding tradition” of not endorsing, or some such phrasing. [hunts in deleted folder] Ah, yes, here’s the language: > For the first time in decades, The Washington Post will not endorse a presidential candidate in this year’s election, the newspaper’s publisher announced Friday. > > “The Washington Post will not be making an endorsement of a presidential candidate in this election. Nor in any future presidential election,” Will Lewis said in a published statement. “We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates.” ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1988 "2024-10-25T18:53:39Z")
Weird as I have never seen any evidence that newspaper presidential endorsements make any difference, and especially ones that are consistent with the lean of their readership. The undecided voter, whoever they are at this point, is also unengaged, and not reading these editorials. Now one that goes against assumed lean, that would be of note. Like Fox endorsing Harris would have an impact maybe. But otherwise no one cares. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1989 "2024-10-25T18:56:06Z")
EDIT: Moving my post to a dedicated thread in the Pit for the Post’s non-endorsement. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1990 "2024-10-25T19:08:03Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > If that doesn’t result in a victory, in a race that is this close, against such a horrible opponent, I think that would be a pretty strong indicator AGAINST the political benefit derived from fund-raising. Excellent point, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1991 "2024-10-25T19:09:10Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So this is extremely strong news for Kamala. Um, no. It’s mostly an indication of just how unpopular Biden was becoming. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1992 "2024-10-25T19:35:42Z")
So, two campaign material updates: 1. Two more signs have sprung up near me, and they both read “Presidens are Temporary/WU-TANG IS FOREVER”. Amazingly, that manages to be both funny and dumb. 2. I went for a long walk today & without really thinking about it wore my Madame President front/Kamala childhood picture back t-shirt. When I got to an intersection I saw the woman waiting at the stop sign making laughing/sneering expressions at me, which I ignored, but then she took a left into oncoming traffic and a car had to brake suddenly/lay on their horn to avoid hitting her. tl;dr = “I almost got a Trump supporter killed today”. 3. (it’s perfectly plausible I misread her laughter/target, but she should have been paying better attention, either way) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1993 "2024-10-25T22:38:57Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > You don’t count Beyoncé as a country music star? 🤣 _ **I’d** _ count her as one. But I’m not so sure about other people. > [@Atamasama](#): > > Taylor Swift is also known as a country singer; in fact her career started in country music, and her first two albums were country. She transitioned to a more contemporary/pop music later in her career. Also, she’s dating one of the most high-profile sports stars in the country, so she’s kind of a two-for-one. Good points. And Swift’s endorsement after the debate was HUGE. I’m grateful to her. (I’d be more so if she did a campaign appearance, though. But I guess we can’t ask for everything.) > [@Shoeless](#): > > I don’t know if Jason Isbell is considered country, or maybe alt-country or Americana, or maybe he’s just not a big enough name, but he’s been pretty vocal about his disdain for Trump and he did play a couple of songs one night at the DNC. You’re right. I’d forgotten. And I expect he HAS done some good for the Democrats. (I read an interview with him—in the New Yorker, maybe? and was impressed by his intelligence and integrity). All that said: it would NOT hurt if the big TV-fame people like Blake Shelton and LeBron James would step forward (though for all I know both those particular two may be Trump fans). ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1994 "2024-10-25T22:57:20Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Blake Shelton Blake Shelton “half-heartedly” endorsed Trump in 2016, but as far as I can tell he’s kept quiet since then. He married Gwen Stefani in 2021, and she at one point hinted at being an Obama supporter but otherwise hasn’t been open about her politics. When she married Shelton, people assumed it was a sign that she would be more of a Republican but she said publicly that she doesn’t identify with either party. To me that says that neither of them want to risk alienating any fans by taking any kind of political stance at all. > [@Sherrerd](#): > > LeBron James While he hasn’t made an endorsement in this race, he publicly supported Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. > **[The King’s co-sign: Why LeBron James’ presidential endorsement matters](https://andscape.com/features/lebron-james-2024-presidential-election/)** > > The history and weight of what James' political voice means He has also had a personal feud with Trump that I assume is still ongoing. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/04/11/lebron-james-book-trump-lakers-benedict/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/04/11/lebron-james-book-trump-lakers-benedict/) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1995 "2024-10-25T23:00:51Z")
Taylor’s last tour show before the election is Sunday in New Orleans. Then she’s off until Nov 14, so she’s available for a campaign appearance. Maybe the event at the Ellipse? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2024, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1996 "2024-10-26T00:33:30Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > He should know better. > > There’s more than a little difference between “we already have and will bolster short barrier sections where they are most needed and effective” and “we’ll build a couple thousand miles of wall along the entire border regardless of any consideration, and somebody else will pay for it” That is the exact correct answer. Anyone who has been to the border knows there has been a wall for decades before Trump. In sections of the border a physical barrier like a wall makes sense. Trumps plan was dumb. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2024, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1997 "2024-10-26T05:40:02Z")
Ok, apparently Beyonce did not perform; just endorsed Harris. Will you accept Willie Nelson? I believe he qualifies as country. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2024, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1998 "2024-10-26T09:39:10Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Two more signs have sprung up near me, and they both read “Presidens are Temporary/WU-TANG IS FOREVER”. Amazingly, that manages to be both funny and dumb. Unlike Republicans, we know Wu-Tang is for the children. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/1999 "2024-10-26T12:54:54Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Swift’s endorsement after the debate was HUGE. Was there any measurable reaction in the polls? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2024, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/2000 "2024-10-26T13:15:11Z")
No, and there wouldn’t be. The polls all weight for likely voters, and historically, youths have been very unlikely voters. If Swift’s endorsement has an effect, it’ll be in turning unlikely voters into voters. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2024, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/2001 "2024-10-26T14:55:35Z")
It would be impossible to tell if any changes in the polls were due to the endorsement or the debate any way. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/2002 "2024-10-26T15:15:33Z")
Swift’s endorsement was relatively passive (I’m voting for her, you make your own decision), but it at least bumped interest in registering. > In the three hours following Taylor Swift’s post on Tuesday, September 10, from 9 p.m. to midnight ET, there was a 585 percent increase in voters using [Vote.gov](http://Vote.gov)’s registration and verification tools compared to the same time during the prior eight days, _the New York Times_ reported. Over the following 24 hours, around 406,000 people clicked on Swift’s link, making up more than half of the 727,000 total visitors to [Vote.gov](http://Vote.gov). By contrast, from September 3 to September 9, the site had an average of 30,000 daily visitors. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571/2003 "2024-10-26T18:10:52Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Blake Shelton “half-heartedly” endorsed Trump in 2016, but as far as I can tell he’s kept quiet since then. > > He married Gwen Stefani in 2021… To me that says that neither of them want to risk alienating any fans by taking any kind of political stance at all. Thanks for that info–yes, that does make sense. Keeping their heads down, like Jeff Bezos et al. > [@Atamasama](#): > > While he hasn’t made an endorsement in this race, he publicly supported Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Interesting. If he did come out for Harris it would make a difference, I’d guess. And unlike country music fans who do tend to be quite right-wing, basketball fans are less partisan, aren’t they? Maybe just uninterested in politics–which is why having James speak up could make a difference. Oh well: pointless speculation, I suppose. In re Taylor Swift’s endorsement: > [@DigitalC](#): > > It would be impossible to tell if any changes in the polls were due to the endorsement or the debate any way. Yes. The whole point of bringing up celebrity endorsements is not that such endorsements would change the views of committed Democrats or committed Republicans. Instead, it’s about potentially reaching people who just don’t pay ANY attention to politics. There are too many such people. And their votes are really, really needed this time! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571.md?page=98) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election-no-more-on-guns/1004571.md?page=100)