# 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:** 24
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/467 "2024-08-05T20:13:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What would happen if there were no clear leader, and it was up to the convention to choose? Ohio would have to agree to extend their deadline. Which it appears they may have done, but in this era where previously unthinkable transgressions are now part of the game, play the game. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/468 "2024-08-08T20:10:51Z")
I enjoyed this Washington Post (limited giftlink) article explaining how Harris discusses policy differently from Biden. (Democracy protection being a low voter priority, so Harris does not mention it, dictatorships or Jan.6th). Smart. Good reason to be enthusiastic. [https://wapo.st/3WVvQ4G](https://wapo.st/3WVvQ4G) In other news… > **[Cook Political Report moves 3 swing states away from Trump, dubbing them...](https://nypost.com/2024/08/08/us-news/cook-political-report-moves-three-states-away-from-trump/)** > > The Cook Political Report moved Arizona, Georgia and Nevada away from former President Donald Trump, switching them from “Lean Republican” to tossups as Vice President Kamala Harris enj… ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/469 "2024-08-08T21:44:36Z")
(NY Times excerpt:) _The largest — and smartest — shift has to do with the subject of democracy, which was one of Biden’s favorite issues. This past spring, [one of his closest advisers](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/03/11/joe-biden-profile) said that [the Capitol riot](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/jan-6-insurrection-capitol/?itid=lk_inline_manual_5) of [Jan. 6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/january-6-capitol-riot/?itid=lk_inline_manual_5), 2021, and Trump’s threat to the republic would be the “overwhelming” focus of his reelection campaign. Biden’s [first few ads posted on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@JoeBiden/videos) mentioned democracy seven times, with multiple allusions to Jan. 6. [Harris’s ads](https://www.youtube.com/@kamalaharris/videos) on the platform have been silent on the issue, referencing neither democracy nor the storming of the Capitol. Her speeches have mentioned democracy four times. Biden brought it up 17 times in campaign speeches given before he dropped out; she hasn’t spoken of Jan. 6 at all._ Gotta say what the voters care about. They may care about this too but not top of the list stuff for most. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/470 "2024-08-09T02:26:00Z")
Those of us who understand the peril and are moved by that issue are already willing to crawl naked over broken glass to vote for her. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/471 "2024-08-09T02:30:12Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Those of us who understand the peril and are moved by that issue are already willing to crawl naked over broken glass to vote for her. This. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/472 "2024-08-09T03:20:54Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Those of us who understand the peril and are moved by that issue are already willing to crawl naked over broken glass to vote for her. Right. It sounds great that to win votes you champion the issues and perspectives that stir your base. You certainly have to feed them a certain amount of red meat to keep them engaged. But you can’t ignore the topics and framing of the opposition. Regular middle of the road citizens are much more motivated than their own personal economics than the idea that democracy itself is in jeopardy. The repubs will push their standard economic narrative and point at all the ways the current economy fits those expectations. What Dems have to do to reach those middle of the road voters is to head in show how their plan is actually better. And it’s not enough to just say it is, or assert that conservatism is about putting others down. It’s important to list the factors that make the situation seem to match the claims of the right. And it’s important to show the effects of each plan side by side. It’s like the folks angry at Israel’s handling of the War in Gaza, and in Biden’s response. There’s an element of younger voters who are anti-Trump, but angry enough they want to “teach the Dems a lesson” by not voting for them. They’re young. But they are totally ignoring that not only is Trump horrible on all the other issues they might care about, on the one issue they are staking out the high ground they are overlooking that Trump would be ten times worse in that issue. Trump would not only be backing Netanyahu even more fully, he’d be cheering on the unrestrained means been used. They are mad the Dems haven’t moved fast or strong enough to chasten Israel over the rampant slaughter of innocents, ignoring that Trump would likely applaud eradicating the Palestinians altogether. Shifting to Harris is great, especially if she can push policy of at least speak to a future harsher response. Pushing abortion access is important, but anybody who isn’t a rabid pro- lifer is already voting D, and already motivated to vote. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/473 "2024-08-09T03:42:32Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > It’s like the folks angry at Israel’s handling of the War in Gaza, and in Biden’s response. Then they are ignorant. Bidens response has been excellent. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/474 "2024-08-09T16:37:30Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Pushing abortion access is important, but anybody who isn’t a rabid pro- lifer is already voting D, and already motivated to vote. I’m going to quibble with you a little here on the second part. Based on what we’ve seen post-Roe, Dem voter turnout goes way up when abortion access is _directly_ on the ballot in state contests, like with a referendum, ballot question, or constitutional amendment. A national election is more diffuse than that, and IMO Harris needs to message as much as she can that the Presidential election is a direct referendum on abortion access and reproductive rights (even though it isn’t, really). It’s a hugely winning issue for Dems and she needs to talk about it loudly, clearly, and all the time. I believe it’s one reason why she has generated so much enthusiasm: aside from her gender and the credibility that gives on this issue, she’s been out front talking about this as part of the Biden administration, including actually visiting an abortion clinic in MN recently. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/475 "2024-08-09T18:22:21Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > A national election is more diffuse than that, and IMO Harris needs to message as much as she can that the Presidential election is a direct referendum on abortion access and reproductive rights (even though it isn’t, really). It’s a hugely winning issue for Dems and she needs to talk about it loudly, clearly, and all the time. Agree with this. It’s why Trump is trying to downplay it’s importance to voters, with a heaping of spin: > **[Trump recommits to a Sept. 10 debate and lashes out at Harris at news conference](https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-news-conference-florida-election-2024-94b590ddf0434d9ea7b1241396dbbcc6)** > > Donald Trump has recommitted to debating Vice President Kamala Harris after recently backing out. _Trump suggested abortion will not be a major issue in the campaign and the outcome in November._ _He insisted that the matter “has become much less of an issue” since the Supreme Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion services and returned control of the matter to state governments. But the issue is widely seen as a general election liability, and Trump named states such as Ohio and Kansas that have since voted to protect abortion rights._ ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/476 "2024-08-09T18:30:10Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > _He insisted that the matter “has become much less of an issue” since the Supreme Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion services and returned control of the matter to state governments._ It became “less of an issue” because his side won, and he doesn’t listen to anything the other side says. So he literally doesn’t know that, while _Republicans_ may be satisfied, _Democrats_ are up in arms. Popping that bubble will be fun. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/477 "2024-08-09T18:39:54Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > It became “less of an issue” because his side won, and he doesn’t listen to anything the other side says. So he literally doesn’t know that, while _Republicans_ may be satisfied, _Democrats_ are up in arms. Which is weird because he was repeating debunked lies to demonize the left about abortions during the recent Biden debate. > **[Trump claims about abortion at nine months are flat-out false, medical...](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/trump-made-false-claims-late-term-abortion-debate-rcna159460)** > > Abortion is expected to be one of the biggest topics that will define the presidential election. That was just over a month ago. The Dobbs decision was in 2022. Clearly that’s not the reason why he’s suddenly downplaying abortion as an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/478 "2024-08-09T18:51:40Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Which is weird because he was repeating debunked lies to demonize the left about abortions during the recent Biden debate. Hell, he repeated that same nonsense right in this “press conference”. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2024, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/479 "2024-08-09T19:11:23Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Hell, he repeated that same nonsense right in this “press conference”. I missed that. So he effectively said that murdering children isn’t a big deal. I mean, look at Eric and Don Jr, maybe that’s understandable. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/480 "2024-08-09T19:19:44Z")
Meanwhile, on the enthusiasm front, we’re still in the honeymoon phase…but I do think Team Orange has to strategically do as much possible to get Harris/Walz talking policy, particularly around divisive issues like Israel/Palestine, in order to start chipping away at that excitement. I assume that’s one reason we’re suddenly hearing that push for debates. For my small part in this, the best thing I can do is send them more money, and help keep them distracted by talking about things like sofas and crowd size… ---
**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:** [August 9, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/481 "2024-08-09T19:37:57Z")
And Hotdish! > **[The Hotdish Ticket](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2024/08/tim-walz-kamala-harris-food-hotdish/679411/?utm_source=feed)** > > The Harris-Walz campaign’s embrace of food is a signal. (Sorry, not a gift link) > The governor of Minnesota and possible future vice president’s [hotdish](https://www.kare11.com/article/life/food/recipes/rep-tim-walzs-winning-hotdish-recipe/89-107523676)[recipe](https://www.kare11.com/article/life/food/recipes/rep-tim-walzs-winning-hotdish-recipe/89-107523676) is, uh, a lot. It involves, among other things, whole milk, half-and-half, two types of meat, three cups of cheese (specifically Kraft), nearly a stick of butter, and a full package of Tater Tots. It is gluttonous, deeply midwestern, and, I am sure, delicious. Indeed, Walz won the Minnesota Congressional Delegation’s hotdish cook-off in 2013, 2014, and 2016. > > Tim Walz _loves_ food. He loves [corn dogs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEKcNeI-3_o), and the [all-you-can-drink milk booth](https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/08/19/what-minnesota-celebrities-eat-drink-and-see-at-the-state-fair) at the Minnesota state fair, and—I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this—[dunking cinnamon rolls in chili](https://racketmn.com/chili-cinnamon-rolls-midwest-mn). He [gets excited about soda](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/diet-mountain-dew-jd-vance-tim-walz-4cfc6564). He posts [pictures of his sandwiches](https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1517655607272255489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1517655607272255489%7Ctwgr%5E8e9c437a95c98c7efb5cc0dccd33d0da9c8fd908%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Ftim-walz-midwestern-dad-kamala-harris-2024-8). He loves to eat so much that people on X are [already](https://x.com/hotghouldiaries/status/1820981621643702749) writing short-form fan fiction about it. Throughout his political career, but especially recently, he has gone out of his way to talk about food, the fattier and folksier the better. > … Dunks cinnamon rolls in chili?? That takes balls. 😮 ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/482 "2024-08-09T19:44:55Z")
Has there been a ticket where both candidates were so charismatic? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/483 "2024-08-09T19:49:07Z")
Please treat above as **Rhetorical**. If you want to answer it, start a new thread. > **If you are responding to something in a thread that is basically off-topic or likely to lead to a hijack, try this** > > How to **Reply as a linked Topic** : > > Click Reply, in the upper left corner of the reply window is the reply type button, _looks like a curving arrow point to the right_. > > Choose **Reply as linked topic** and it starts a new thread. As an example, you can choose GD, IMHO or The Pit for it. > > That is actually the best method. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/484 "2024-08-09T19:55:46Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Dunks cinnamon rolls in chili?? I’ve been to events, such as church suppers, where both cinnamon rolls and chili were served side by side, but I don’t recall witnessing any dunking. Doesn’t sound great, but, hey, who am I to judge? /end hijack ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/485 "2024-08-09T20:17:29Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Dunks cinnamon rolls in chili?? And we have the nerve to call Republicans weird? /s ---
**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:** [August 9, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/486 "2024-08-09T20:19:20Z")
I know for a fact that Tim Walz doesn’t get “excited about soda.” He gets excited about _pop_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685.md?page=25)