# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/103 "2024-07-23T20:25:16Z")
> [@Win\_Place\_Show](#): > > Watching her command the room at her rally in Milwaukee is a thing of beauty. Just watched that on YouTube. Kamala Harris can very definitely make a speech. And she can praise multiple generations in the same sentence; make it just enough about her but not too much about her; go on the attack and scare people about the alternative but leave her audience confident and hopeful. I am feeling a whole shitload better about this election. ---
**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 23, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/104 "2024-07-23T20:34:04Z")
Another vote for “this is working much better than I thought”. I didn’t expect the Democrats to so smoothly form up in support, or the burst of enthusiasm among possible voters. Hopefully it works - Biden, Harris or a random rock, what’s more important is that Trump _loses._ Early signs look good for her at least. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/105 "2024-07-23T20:41:29Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Hopefully it works - Biden, Harris or a random rock, what’s more important is that Trump _loses._ Early signs look good for her at least. Agree. And hopefully Trump and Vance get irritated at all the attention Harris is getting and start mouthing-off more and more insane gibberish that the MAGA love but will push more voters over to the D column. ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/106 "2024-07-23T20:41:33Z")
Count me as another who has been pleasantly surprised by the unity shown by democrats since Sunday. I deliberately stayed out of the debates over whether or not Biden should drop out, the reason being that I didn’t really have a strong opinion one way or the other, I’m one who’s going to vote for the D regardless and I thought both sides had good points to make. I will say I was hesitant about Biden dropping out as I was concerned, as others were, about the famous “circular firing squad.” I am ecstatic that that doesn’t seem to be happening. It appears to me that there was a plan of some sort in place. The timing of this was absolutely perfect and everything seems to be going Democrats way right now. The base seems to have had their fire reignited, and the numbers being reported about donations is very encouraging. I’m actually cautiously optimistic about November for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/107 "2024-07-23T20:41:41Z")
I feel like – apart from her own solid qualities and qualifications – Harris instantly benefited from the Biden quote: > Don’t compare me to the Almighty. Compare me to the alternative. Those were really dark days for Democratic 2025 hopes after that debate. I feel like a lot of us saw what we wanted to see in many/most of his appearances that followed, and that some (notably, there were vocal “Emperor (still) has no clothes” voices here) unrealistically discounted the notion that Biden’s post-debate engagements – while often encouraging – weren’t the crucible that the debate was. Maybe some of our relief and elation over Harris is an unspoken realization that we likely harbored profound angst, and had surely dodged a big, wizened bullet. If Harris derives any benefit at all from any measure of that, it’s all to the good. Which doesn’t mean we’re in the clear. These things tend to reload 😉 My hope is that Harris has the best handlers that PAC money can buy, and that they work with her daily to be The Very Best Candidate She Could Possibly Ever Be. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/108 "2024-07-23T20:58:41Z")
I liked her in 2019, and was disappointed with the reception she got. I think she was the first of the female primary candidates that year to be hit with the, “I don’t know, there’s just something about her that rubs me the wrong way” wave. I also think she’s learned from her mistakes back then, and will have really good advisors now. But the best thing about her in my view, is, as has already been mentioned, that the things she (so far) has been getting attacked on, she and her supporters just embrace. Yes, she has a loud and enthusiastic laugh. That’s awesome, and you only think it’s not because you want women to be quiet and demure. She said that thing about the coconut – lets post coconut tree emoji to show support. I hope that reflects her sense of humor about herself. At the GOP convention, they of course mentioned her being the “border czar” but other than that, they mostly just intentionally mispronounced her name. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/109 "2024-07-23T21:02:38Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > ETA - while there’s always reluctance to count on younger voters to show up, I do also think it’s time for Harris to double down on youth, and show a bit more of the disciplined attack on Trump that Biden was more reluctant to do. Show the difference in energy and willing to take it to the mat as it were. I agree. The Dems have generally to tried to play things as above the fray. They won’t get in the mud. Wrestling with a pig and all that. It has not worked for them. They need to get a bit more rough-and-tumble. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/110 "2024-07-23T22:18:48Z")
I don’t know that much about Harris. She seems to me a competent person. From a Canadian perspective, Biden gave her a lot of the difficult files, but rarely put her in the spotlight. She was not that frequently the main subject of fairly recent Canadian news articles. Why enthusiasm? Because after the debate, the Democrats chances have now improved. Because she is now the younger, energetic candidate. Because enthusiasm glows twice as bright following despondency. Because the funds will flow again. Because Biden is easier to attack than Harris in an acceptable way, and some of the dogs won’t hunt and the mud won’t stick following transfer. Because people are projecting whatever they want if they don’t know that much about Harris or know too much about Trump. Because the Democrats have on occasion given voice and attention to the loudest complainers, resulting in more, and Harris will help soothe this savage breast. Because Harris may also be more popular with voters the Democrats really need to vote. Because even Dems were surprised at the show of unity and the bestowed opportunity. Not knowing that much, it is hard for me to evaluate her said flaws, reported to include relative newness and possible lack of deep connections, Californian record, debating skill and use of non-sequitirs. One presumes she must have learned quickly from exposure to Biden and handling difficult issues, and has presumably improved in many of these respects even as the party now has every incentive to maximize assistance. I think the Dems should consider refraining from making Harris the official candidate while finding the best potential Veep, even while making her the obvious choice for purposes of fundraising and party unity. Then the Dems can say she was chosen and not acclaimed, while evaluating all possibilities on their merits and keeping the opposition guessing. But should she debate Trump and under what conditions? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/111 "2024-07-23T22:20:55Z")
> **Does not belong here. Hidden by WE?** > > Not sure where this goes, but Trump reversed himself and now is unexpectedly enthusiastic about debating Harris. So taking the thread title literally, this fits the thread topic: > > [Trump says he is willing to debate Harris multiple times](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/23/trump-says-he-is-willing-to-debate-harris-multiple-times.html) > > She should say yes, Commission on Presidential Debates rules. She can even say that Joe made a mistake to try reinventing a system that works. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/112 "2024-07-23T22:22:48Z")
Pausing for the inevitable and dog-eared “Well, I _want_ to debate her, but my attorneys have barred me from doing so” schtick. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/113 "2024-07-23T22:25:35Z")
I like the coconut tree thing. The tropical version of falling off the turnip truck, or born yesterday. Should they get to a debate I hope she uses the phrase against trump. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/114 "2024-07-23T22:26:30Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Pausing for the inevitable and dog-eared “Well, I _want_ to debate her, but my attorneys have barred me from doing so” schtick. He plays games to get attention. But the only thing worse for him than losing a debate would be the polling points lost by chickening out on debating her. He has to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/115 "2024-07-23T22:31:48Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Pausing for the inevitable and dog-eared “Well, I _want_ to debate her, but my attorneys have barred me from doing so” schtick. I was one of those folks who doubted Trump would debate Biden. I was wrong, obviously, and I think he’ll debate Harris. He’ll seem scared if he doesn’t. ---
**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 23, 2024, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/116 "2024-07-23T22:39:14Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > I like the coconut tree thing. What’s the coconut tree thing? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/117 "2024-07-23T22:41:57Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > What’s the coconut tree thing? As recounted in this NPR article: > [@](#): > > The “coconut tree” meme originates from a [May 2023 speech](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/05/10/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-swearing-in-ceremony-of-commissioners-for-the-white-house-initiative-on-advancing-educational-equity-excellence-and-economic-opportunity-for-hispanics/) Harris gave at a White House event for advancing opportunities for Hispanic Americans. > > At one point near the end of her remarks, Harris talked about how the initiative’s work would be focused on young people, but it should also take into account the needs of their families, teachers and communities, “because none of us just live in a silo.” > > “Everything is in context,” Harris said, before launching into the now-famous anecdote. > > "My mother … would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?’ " Harris said with a laugh. “You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.” It then became a meme for her supporters, and picked up steam in recent weeks. > **[The Kamala Harris coconut tree meme, explained as best we can](https://www.npr.org/2024/07/21/g-s1-12556/kamala-harris-coconut-tree-meme-context-unburdened)** > > How did the coconut tree emerge as the emblem of the vice president's most devoted, or at least most-online followers? It's a story more than a year in the making. ---
**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 23, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/118 "2024-07-23T22:43:22Z")
Ok, thx. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/119 "2024-07-23T22:47:29Z")
I think the best indicator of enthusiasm for Kamala is the money pouring in. Joe Biden, as great of a President as he is and as much as anyone would love to see him win, was never going to have a day of fundraising like Kamala has had. He was never going to have tens of thousands of volunteers coming onboard in a single day. Personally, I didn’t find Kamala Harris to be that exciting of a candidate but I find that she is easy to become excited about and she has breathed a lot of much needed fresh air into this campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/120 "2024-07-23T22:54:51Z")
Speaking for myself, I was so depressed by how the Biden campaign that when it finally ground to a halt, I became euphoric. Eventually, I will find she has flaws (who doesn’t) but for the time being, I am an enthusiast. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/121 "2024-07-23T23:06:45Z")
I think part of that fund raising, were from donors who were concerned that Biden was going to drop out and so didn’t want to send money that would be difficult for whoever was the nominee to use. Once Biden dropped and Harris was the obvious next choice they could open the flood gates. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/122 "2024-07-23T23:07:26Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > You also now have a convicted felon who was found by a civil jury to have sexually assaulted a woman running against a female prosecutor. That can really get played up to hurt Donnie. I hope the time on Howard Stern where he recounted visiting the dressing room of the contestants at his teen beauty pageants gets a lot of play, along with the classic “grab 'em” tape. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685.md?page=7)