Staff Reports
It is hard to grasp why anyone would consider a tour by Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz a grand spectacle of excitement. Still, they certainly seem to be spinning it that way. As their grand introduction to America unfolds, the duo is traipsing through battleground states like a pair of overzealous summer camp counselors, aiming to connect with “independents” and “undecided voters.” In reality, they might be more concerned with trying to salvage the sinking ship of the Biden-Harris administration.
Embarking on their multi-state adventure, this lively pair kicked things off with a rally in Philadelphia, where the excitement reached a fever pitch among attendees, who were likely just thrilled to be offered a little social interaction after too many months of lockdowns. With planned appearances in states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada, they were all set to mix it up until Tropical Storm Debby rudely washed out their plans for Georgia and North Carolina. The weather gods have clearly picked a side, leaving the Democrats to scramble as they roll out their charm offensive.
Early Harris-Walz rallies feature big crowds, talk of 'joy' and unsolicited GOP counterprogramminghttps://t.co/7huogZ50HT
— WIZM NEWS (@WIZM) August 12, 2024
In classic Democratic fashion, Harris is claiming record turnout as proof that she suddenly has the wind at her back. By her statistics, the crowds she drew reached an impressive capacity, with thousands showing up to witness what appears to be a masterclass in generic campaign speeches. Harris basked in the aura of being the first Black woman and Asian American to hold the title of a major party’s presidential nominee. Still, one can’t help but wonder how much of that is an actual accomplishment versus just a shiny gimmick to distract from the party’s dwindling support.
Meanwhile, her Republican counterpart, Donald Trump, is watching this charade with bemused skepticism. He made clear that despite the hopeful crowd counts that are paraded around by the Democrats, they’re still not in the same league as his rallies. His usual army of supporters remains unfazed by Harris and Walz’s antics, and they certainly won’t fall for the propaganda that asserts these so-called “happy crowds” are indicative of anything other than a political party in deep denial.
Of course, Vance, Trump's running mate, has taken a page out of the Democratic playbook by inserting himself wherever the duo appears. Much like an over-eager coffee shop barista trying to impress customers, Vance is seemingly shadowing Harris and Walz in what can only be described as a “friendly” game of political chess. His antics—showing up at events just ahead of or after Harris—might be the equivalent of a cat chasing its tail: entertaining but ultimately pointless in the grand scope of the ongoing campaign.
However, it’s not just a showdown of crowds and cheering fans. There’s the sappy emotional rhetoric as Harris and Walz weave their personal stories into their speeches to generate empathy and votes. Harris promised to eliminate federal taxes on tips for service workers, a move that Trump had proposed long before her, which made her appear just a tad bit like a copycat. The whole campaign seems to revolve around declaring they are the party of “joy” and “hope” while also finding time to latch onto “social justice” narratives that often go hand-in-hand with claims about personal freedom and autonomy, especially when it comes to sensitive subjects like reproductive rights.
As the Democrats continue their self-proclaimed march toward victory, one thing is clear—the countdown to Election Day is on, and while the Harris-Walz showcase might be in full swing, Republican voters are sitting back, ready to return the favor to the party that tries to paint a version of reality with rose-colored glasses. The enthusiasm might dwindle in the coming weeks as more Americans wake up to the disillusionment brought by the current administration and get ready to make their decision at the ballot box in November.
