Staff Reports
As Election Day approaches with an ominous ticking clock, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face the ominous specter of dwindling voter enthusiasm. The political analysts have weighed in, and the consensus is clear: enthusiasm will play a pivotal role in determining turnout. Let’s take a closer look at three major warning signs each candidate is dealing with, and it doesn’t look good for Team Harris.
Harris was undoubtedly hoping for a boost from the Democratic National Convention. The high-stakes convention was painted as a pivotal moment that either could make or break her campaign. Instead, it fizzled out more than a damp firecracker, missing both the explosive energy of 1968 and the fanfare that Democrats craved. Election analysts have noted that while there was a temporary lift in enthusiasm post-Biden dropout, that explosion of support may have been more a case of being the only contestant in a game no one else wanted to play. Without a jolt from the convention, many Democrats have to be wondering how much juice they really have left in the tank.
Trump, on the other hand, has faced whispers of discontent from within his own party. While some Republicans rally behind him like loyal subjects, others have begun to quietly hope for Harris to take the crown. It appears there are factions within the GOP that are not just skeptical but are downright hostile to Trump’s evolving positions on key issues. Anti-abortion Republicans yearn for a more hardline stance, war hawks miss the days of military intervention, while the free traders are still having nightmares about tariffs. It seems some in the Republican ranks are willing to risk a Harris presidency just to realign their party’s agenda. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.
As for Harris, her promising lead in states crucial to a Democratic victory is rapidly evaporating. Recent shifts in key battlegrounds like Pennsylvania and Michigan show a steady decline in her support. Numbers from a reputable polling source indicate that support in Pennsylvania has slipped from a comfortable lead to a dangerously narrow margin. That’s not a trend anyone wants to see this close to the election. To make matters worse for Harris, a demographic deep dive reveals a critical loss among white voters without college degrees—these voters are flocking to Trump like moths to a flame.
On the Trump front, Goldman Sachs has issued a rather dire prediction about his economic policies, claiming they would plunge the economy into a tailspin. It’s the same story, different election: Wall Street elitists shaking their heads at Trump’s plans as they did in 2016, completely missing the mark on the economic boom that followed. Trump’s campaign is licking its chops, reminding everyone of the many times the experts got it wrong last time around. It’s almost as if these “economists” are auditioning for a role in a comedy instead of providing legitimate financial forecasts.
Signs of enthusiasm for Trump and Harris may be fading ahead of Election Day https://t.co/FC8YyA4vGp
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 8, 2024
Last but certainly not least, Harris’s attempt to navigate the minefield of foreign policy has her caught between a rock and a hard place. As growing dissent bubbles among pro-Palestinian activists, her failure to break from Biden’s established stance on Gaza has left many voters feeling decidedly unenthused. Her ambiguous rhetorical gymnastics to cater to “uncommitted” voters might earn her some critic applause, but the reality is that backing Israel without a distinct position can make her sound just as indecisive as she indeed is. Amidst campus protests and a charged atmosphere, Harris seems to be fumbling at exactly the wrong time, setting up a chaotic narrative that’s all too easy for Republicans to exploit.
With less than two months to go until the big show, a lackluster Harris and a conflicted Trump are both feeling the heat. Voter enthusiasm is key, and both candidates have their work cut out for them if they plan to rally their bases or even understand just how important enthusiasm is in the unsettlement of American politics. The coming months will undoubtedly reveal whether either party can reignite the fervor needed to drive the vote, or if they’ll both fizzle out in the final stretch.
