# 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:** 9
**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:** [July 24, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/163 "2024-07-24T15:35:08Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Yeah she is. > > I always thought she got crapped on by Democrats for her performance in those debates. > > I’ve been watching her speeches of late. I really feel she’s ready. > > This is going to be HOT. I agree. I wasn’t impressed with her performance during her campaign. She was missing something. She has it now. She exudes confidence. She looks presidential. Her experience in the White House seasoned her. I’m not making any predictions but she will make a race of it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/164 "2024-07-24T15:36:03Z")
I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm. Part of it is relief that we’re no longer riding a lame horse in Biden. But part of it is seeing someone smile and being upbeat and being able to articulate clearly. Clearly as a campaigner she is better than Biden. It’s so nice to see an optimistic candidate as opposed to her opponent who when he’s not whining about himself, he’s proclaiming doom, despair, and agony for us. A breath of fresh air has entered a depressing race. I love Biden and think he has been a good president, but I’m very happy albeit a little surprised to see the enthusiasm as well as the money pouring in. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/165 "2024-07-24T15:36:57Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > > How about “Cowardly Lyin’ Donald”? > > How about Donald the Cowardly Liar? > > I also was originally dismayed at first the talk of getting rid of Biden and then replacing him with Harris. I thought she was too not male and white to win. My son, a Millennial, was instantly chuffed (sorry, watching a lot of English cooking shows on YT). But all this enthusiasm is catchy. And the fact that NONE of the events of the last two weeks-- and there was a lot-- was enough to give Trump even the slightest bump in the polls. > > Fingers crossed, y’all! Don’t try to out Trump Trump. Others have tried. The way she has been hitting him is perfect without the childish insults. Smart insults are better. ---
**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 24, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/166 "2024-07-24T16:29:02Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Don’t try to out Trump Trump. Others have tried. The way she has been hitting him is perfect without the childish insults. Smart insults are better. Exactly. And when he goes on about “People are saying…” she should say “What people? Who?” and when he says “Polls are showing…” she should say “What polls? Where?” and when he says “Constitutional experts are saying…” she should say “Which ones? Who is saying that?” It’s high time someone makes him answer to these lies, since the media seems incapable of doing this. Harris seems right for this type of questioning. ---
**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 24, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/167 "2024-07-24T16:43:22Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > That works. That worked with Pence who has some degree is shame and decorum. I doubt it would work with Trump, who would just continue to shout over her as she just kept repeating “I’m speaking”. Muted mics is the only thing that will work on Trump. ---
**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 24, 2024, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/168 "2024-07-24T16:55:43Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > > [@Biggirl](#): > > > > I thought she was too not male and white to win > > Too many people thought that way, because they were burdened by what has been. Its important to remember that even though for the past 8 years we’ve been the country that elected Trump, prior to that we were the country that elected Obama and by almost (by the skin of her teeth) elected Clinton. We have the ability to get back there if we can only get past the Post Trump Stress Disorder and remember who we were as a country. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/169 "2024-07-24T17:00:16Z")
I was not a Kamala fan during her previous presidential run. I was not a fan of what felt like a false bravado/tough cookie “act.” She seemed to go for sound bites instead of meaty policy content. While I fully intended to vote for her once Joe dropped out (which, with all due respect to him, needed to happen) because I would vote for a Democratic Bic lighter over the Republican menaces, I feel much more positive about voting for her now. When I saw Kamala’s first speech, I have to say I was excited, inspired, even joyful! My first thought when she was done speaking was, “Go kick some Republican ass Kamala!!!” To hear her say she was going to rebuild the middle class as the backbone of our economy was just music to my ears. And to hear her energy, enthusiasm and educated and thoughtful plans was such a welcome change to what we’ve had. If she debates Trump, first of all, I think she can handle him well, AND I don’t think that there will be any portion of the conversation about who can carry their own golf bags! What a freaking relief! I also get the sense that she’s been watching Biden v Trump this whole time, biting her tongue on retorts she would have given had she been in Biden’s place. And now she will be and can let loose what she’s been studying for the last four years. ---
**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 24, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/170 "2024-07-24T17:03:30Z")
We’ll never know- trump will never debate Kamala. She would annihilate him. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/171 "2024-07-24T17:16:51Z")
To be honest Democrats are in the phase of irrational euphoria in their relief that Biden is out and someone younger is in. And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, at the least it has generated a lot of money and has provided a nice kickstart to her campaign. When the dust settles down though Harris is a weak candidate albeit facing off against another weak candidate. Her approval rating is 38%. She will have problems connecting with white non-college voters in the Midwest who will be crucial. And while some of the GOP attacks are off (e.g. cat lady), their main line of attack on illegal immigration will have legs. At this point she has perhaps a 30-40% chance of winning which is significant but which still leaves Trump as the favorite. There is the potential to change this since he has a lot of weaknesses but to exploit them fully and defend her own weaknesses, Harris is going to have show more political skill than she ever has before. ---
**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 24, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/172 "2024-07-24T17:31:01Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > She will have problems connecting with white non-college voters in the Midwest who will be crucial. I think this is worth noting. I sure hope in all the euphoria this is not handwaved away. IMHO she needs to steer clear of the whole “look at me imma black-indian woman” with this voting block. Instead she needs to focus on how badly Trump did for these same voters and be clear on what policies she is favoring that will help them (e.g. improvements in their economy, their infrastructure, dealing with the fentanyl problem - basically speak to the issues THEY are facing). Count me among those who couldn’t care less about a candidate’s hardscrabble background (including JD Vance) or how hard it was for them growing up. We all had/have challenges. What I want to know is why you are going to do better for me and for the country than the other guy. I think she has enough powder to convince “Joe the plumber” she’s the better choice without having to depend on her ethnicity or gender. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/173 "2024-07-24T17:38:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The Harris enthusiasm isn’t because she’s a super candidate like Barack Obama or Bill Clinton […] But actually… she is! I’m not surprised at all. About a year to two years ago (and I don’t remember the thread title–I think it was about Kamala’s viability in 2028), I was saying on this very board that she is a _great_ candidate and the weaknesses ascribed to her were BS. I think any surprise comes from not having paid attention to her over the past four years. And that’s fine–she’s the VP, after all. I haven’t exactly been studying her performance, but I always liked her and, insofar as news about her hit my eardrums, it was mostly positive. Probably her only weaknesses right now are bad promotion of her performance as border czar (mostly due to the administration’s poor communications overall) and staff turnover issues (the substance of which I know nothing about). But look at her _speak_ now. Perfection. Not an “um” or an “uh”–total confidence, affability, coherence, clarity, and _substance._ She now brings to the table her original kickass experience with the VP’s experience on top of that. She’s frickin’ _bossin’_ this thing, and she totally is going to win and be a great president. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/174 "2024-07-24T17:39:28Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > IMHO she needs to steer clear of the whole “look at me imma black-indian woman” with this voting block. Instead she needs to focus on how badly Trump did with these same voters and be clear on what policies she is favoring that will help them (e.g. improvements in their economy, their infrastructure, dealing with the fentanyl problem - basically speak to the issues THEY are facing). From what little I’ve seen I don’t see her or her camp pushing the “woman of color” thing. They’re pushing straight through with policy and anti-Trump. The general populus (the Internet) are pushing the “I’m voting for her because she’s a woman” and “I’m voting for her because she’s a POC” stuff. I agree with you in that I think it should stay that way. People can be drawn to her because of what she looks like, and get enthused by how they generally perceive women and POC, and stay for the policy messaging. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/175 "2024-07-24T17:41:18Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > But look at her _speak_ now. Perfection. Not an “um” or an “uh”–total confidence, affability, coherence, clarity, and _substance._ Some of my very favorite people in this world, especially when it comes to conversation, are lawyers. There’s just that extra little bit of training and practice they have that makes them different to talk to and listen to than anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/176 "2024-07-24T17:42:05Z")
Yeah, it kinda clicks along the track in a nice way! ---
**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 24, 2024, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/177 "2024-07-24T17:47:50Z")
This is a good point. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/178 "2024-07-24T17:48:50Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Instead she needs to focus on how badly Trump did for these same voters and be clear on what policies she is favoring that will help them But do those voters _want_ to hear that? Don’t we talk all the time about voting against interest? ---
**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 24, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/179 "2024-07-24T17:49:44Z")
But the debate may not allow for interruptions. That does not mean those are not sensible follow-up questions which will remain unanswered. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/180 "2024-07-24T17:55:36Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > To be honest Democrats are in the phase of irrational euphoria in their relief that Biden is out and someone younger is in. It’s only irrational if she actually performs poorly. She has a lot more positive attributes than just being young. > [@](#): > > When the dust settles down though Harris is a weak candidate albeit facing off against another weak candidate. She’s not weak by nature, and she will only be weak if she performs poorly. Trump is weak by nature. > [@](#): > > Her approval rating is 38%. I would guess but cannot demonstrate the VPs approval rating is strongly correlated with that of the president. I would be curious to know what VPs have had higher approval ratings than their respective presidents. I would bet not many. Thus, I doubt how meaningful this is. > [@](#): > > She will have problems connecting with white non-college voters in the Midwest who will be crucial. Data is needed to back this up. > [@](#): > > And while some of the GOP attacks are off (e.g. cat lady), their main line of attack on illegal immigration will have legs. Its an unfortunate strength for the GOP right now and one that was at least partially avoidable, inasmuch as Biden’s communication on the issue has been nonexistent (and very poor in all of the areas in which he has been objectively succeeding, such as the economy, unemployment, etc.). Now that we have someone who can speak not just coherently but effectively, maybe we will get some counter-messsaging on this issue. > [@](#): > > At this point she has perhaps a 30-40% chance of winning which is significant but which still leaves Trump as the favorite. Data required. Reuters cites a new poll: Harris 44%, Trump 42%. > **[Exclusive-Harris leads Trump 44% to 42% in US presidential race,...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-harris-leads-trump-44-173532389.html)** > > (Reuters) -Vice President Kamala Harris opened up a marginal two-percentage-point lead over Republican Donald Trump after President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and passed the torch to her, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found. That compares with... We’ll see where it goes, but I don’t think it’s justified to say that Harris starts off weaker than Trump. > [@](#): > > Harris is going to have show more political skill than she ever has before. In progress! ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/181 "2024-07-24T18:02:12Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > their main line of attack on illegal immigration will have legs And she’ll remind everybody that there’s a bipartisan border bill that Trump made the Republicans kill because he didn’t want Biden to get the credit. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685/182 "2024-07-24T18:03:02Z")
You can’t just look at the single best poll Harris has had. CNN has Trump up by 3 and Quinnipiac has him up by 2. In general RCP has him up by 1.7 which would be consistent with a moderate advantage. Polymarket gives Trump at 63% chance of winning which again indicates a moderate advantage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-enthusiasm-for-harris/1004685.md?page=10)