# Unexpected Enthusiasm for Harris? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** kamala-harris\ **Created:** [July 23, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685 "2024-07-23T13:20:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/283 "2024-07-25T23:27:53Z")
Has this one been posted yet? Axios poll that shows that Biden was leading TFG 53 - 47 with voters age 18 - 34. Harris leads him 60 - 40. [https://www.axios.com/2024/07/25/poll-harris-biden-trump-young-voters](https://www.axios.com/2024/07/25/poll-harris-biden-trump-young-voters) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/284 "2024-07-25T23:33:21Z")
That’s normal. 53-47 frankly suggests a poll of dubious reliability. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/285 "2024-07-26T00:17:49Z")
For voters 18 to 34? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/286 "2024-07-26T00:33:26Z")
Actually that is a positive sign but I would hope she can improve on that with voters 18-34. [Looking at numbers from 2020](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/06/30/behind-bidens-2020-victory/) Biden had 59% of voters 18-30 and trump 35%. Not exactly the same group but similar results. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/287 "2024-07-26T01:54:41Z")
Yeah; if Harris stopped laughing, she’d just get called “humorless”, “shrill” or an “ice queen” instead. That’s how such attacks on women _work;_ fundamentally they are driven by misogyny, not behavior. And so changing her behavior will just change the rhetoric use in the bashing, not its existence. ---
**Author:** ![illoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a3d4f5/32.png) [@illoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/illoe)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/288 "2024-07-26T05:43:53Z")
It is wild, the double standard. I love every humanistic and nuanced position I’ve heard from Harris: I’m surprised to find I like her sincerity and intelligence even more than I liked Obama’s character and conviction. I guess it’s reasonable that women are feeling a resonance with her candidacy that many men aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/289 "2024-07-26T09:55:10Z")
The Obamas both endorse Kamalot: > > Kamala responds: > ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/290 "2024-07-26T10:20:14Z")
Glad the Obamas broke their personal protocol and endorsed Harris early. That takes away a bizarre right-wing talking point. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/291 "2024-07-26T11:38:49Z")
This wasn’t their personal protocol, but very staged timing by the democratic team. This is the last major endoresemt by the democrats, an encore of sorts and it was timed right before the weekend in order to led the headlines. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/292 "2024-07-26T12:24:13Z")
Totally staged and totally great. It’s so much more effective than a press release to show Kamala chatting like friends with both Obamas in a “behind the scenes” moment. Great idea and execution from the campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/293 "2024-07-26T14:21:25Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > That’s how such attacks on women _work;_ At least no one is claiming she has “cankles”! 🙄 As an older white guy who has spent way too many days dressing anonymously in a dark suit, white dress shirt and tie, it always struck me as so ridiculous and unfair that Hillary - a perfectly fine-looking woman of her age - had to think about how her clothing choices would be debated. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/294 "2024-07-26T14:32:12Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > This is the last major endoresemt by the democrats, an encore of sorts and it was timed right before the weekend in order to led the headlines. I listened to the news this morning on the radio. The Obama endorsement was on there, along with the stock market up 500 points, a big drug arrest by DEA, and I few other miscellaneous stories. Not one mention of Trump or Vance. Trump must be going crazy. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/295 "2024-07-26T14:42:20Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > …always struck me as so ridiculous and unfair that Hillary - a perfectly fine-looking woman of her age - had to think about how her clothing choices would be debated. Don’t forget Obama and the infamous Tan Suit. But yeah, women’s wardrobe choices are noted and judged more than (white) mens’. [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/gV3b6Db.png?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/pGlY8Au) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/296 "2024-07-26T14:50:13Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > But yeah, women’s wardrobe choices are noted and judged more than (white) mens’. Yep. A light-hearted take (first few minutes): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zFYCZ-KiOMc/hqdefault.jpg "Taylor Tomlinson's After Midnight Outfits Ranked by Reddit") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFYCZ-KiOMc) ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/297 "2024-07-26T14:54:48Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > What I didn’t see was anybody arguing that she’d be really, really popular. That money would come pouring from Democrats for a candidate they were excited to support. 28,000 people have signed up to volunteer, when before it was less than 300 a day. I definitely did not see this happening. She was my choice in the 2020 primaries, but dropped out early. After that, I saw some clips of her speaking style in some of her more odd/goofy moments, and I felt that must have been the big obstacle, so I wasn’t sure she’d be well positioned to take over the 2024 campaign from Biden. I think there are some different elements working in her favor this time. - The near-death experience of Biden’s debate flop. I feel this could’ve been survivable, but after prominent Dems started knifing him, it looked like there was no path forward. For me this was terrifying, so a lot of my enthusiasm is relief from seeing Dems unify for once. - In hindsight it’s obvious, running a woman of color against Trump is the move. - The change has put the Trump campaign on the back foot. - Thanks to Trump and Biden, the bar for verbal miscues is now beneath the floor. Kamala is fine on this front. - It really is time for a woman president. We let Hillary PTSD sweep that under the rug, but I think we all now see it’s past time. - Dems have given Black voters and women someone to vote for. Having a few pro-black policies isn’t enough. We know they deserve better representation in gov’t, but I think most of us white people don’t appreciate the craving that comes from not being represented, and the disappointment that it creates each time the supposedly pro-Black, pro-woman party picks yet another old white guy as leader. In short, things have changed, and Harris is the candidate for this moment. I could not possibly guess how she’ll govern. I’m a little nervous about her speaking and rhetoric, like the way she flogs bromides like “unburden the past through the future” or whatever. But she’s not Trump, and that’s enough for me, and it ought to be enough for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/298 "2024-07-26T14:58:32Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Don’t forget Obama and the infamous Tan Suit. And his mom jeans. Yeah, it happens. But nowhere near the issue of someone as brilliant and accomplished as Hillary, being taken to task for her decision whether to wear a skirt or pants. Not to mention the color. Also so weird and unfair - Hillary was a perfectly fine looking woman. Probably above average in appearance in most peoples’ opinions. But every aspect of her appearance, expressions, and vocalisms were dissected in ways no male politician has to deal with. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/299 "2024-07-26T15:10:48Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Also so weird and unfair - Hillary was a perfectly fine looking woman. Probably above average in appearance in most peoples’ opinions. But every aspect of her appearance, expressions, and vocalisms were dissected in ways no male politician has to deal with. I can’t explain why, but I think we’re past that point now. Right now, in 2024, people understand the stakes of Trump getting back into the white house, they realize they’ve made too much of minutia in the past, they understand the risk of indulging in that kind of idle carping. Sadly I cannot speak for the MSM on this, as very weirdly they’ve taken direct aim at Democrats this cycle, but I think the rest of the anti-Trump world knows that in this election cycle we don’t have the luxury of treating the Dem candidate like fodder for late-night comedy monologues. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/300 "2024-07-26T15:34:36Z")
Plus, there is always the obvious rejoinder, “Yeah, but he doesn’t even know how to tie a tie!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/301 "2024-07-26T16:22:15Z")
My friend Kari has addressed the energy issue. (parody) [The Kari Report: Musk not spending 45 Million on Trump -- Harris supporters spend 1600 Megawatt-hours in three days](https://karireport.blogspot.com/2024/07/musk-not-spending-45-million-on-trmp.html) ---
**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:** [July 26, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/302 "2024-07-26T16:54:03Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Totally staged and totally great. It’s so much more effective than a press release to show Kamala chatting like friends with both Obamas in a “behind the scenes” moment. Great idea and execution from the campaign. Yup. So far I am very impressed with the rollout of the campaign and the way Democrats are reacting and proceeding. “Democrats in disarray”? No way! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685.md?page=16)