Staff Reports
The final stretch of the 2024 election is heating up, and it looks like Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are set to deliver a spectacle worthy of a highlight reel. Both candidates are relying on their running mates to help pitch their visions to the voters. Trump has brought in Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio, while Harris chose Governor Tim Walz from Minnesota, trusting he can liven things up.
However, while Harris and Walz are off somewhere trying to muster enthusiasm, it appears Trump and Vance are primed to call out the duo for their apparent avoidance of the press. Vance, taking on the role of the watchdog, shadowed Harris and Walz during their campaign stops in Michigan and Wisconsin, making it clear that they can’t just hide from the public.
Trump kicked off the day with a call to Fox & Friends, expressing his delight over Harris selecting Walz as her backup. The former president, who has been known for his trash-talking prowess, even hinted at debating Harris soon. There’s a sense that he believes if he can go toe-to-toe with her, he might just expose her weaknesses as he did with Biden. Trump firmly believes that debates are crucial, as they could reveal Harris’s lack of substance to the voters.
Vance and Harris on the same tarmac in Eau Claire.
Vance comes over to cameras covering AF2 arrival…
"… hopefully it's going to be my plane in a few months. I also thought you guys may get lonely, bc the VP doesn't answer q's from reporters…"
Vid: @WEAU13News pic.twitter.com/QhUS2MtEby
— James Stratton (@StrattonWISN) August 7, 2024
Vance, not one to miss an opportunity to pounce, also held a press conference, targeting Harris for her lack of unscripted remarks and accessibility. With Harris allegedly avoiding the media, Vance took it upon himself to approach her plane and publicly question why she wasn’t engaging with reporters. Apparently, it’s lonely at the top when you refuse to answer questions.
As the campaign marches on, attendees at Harris’s events in Eau Claire seemed to be enjoying themselves, but one has to wonder how many were there for the cheese curds and raw honey she picked up afterward than for her political pep talks. Despite Harris branding herself and Walz as “joyful warriors,” the reality is that their messaging may not resonate with voters facing real issues. Their rallies involved plenty of music and chanting, but the incessant protests from audience members about various global issues hinted that not everyone was feeling the joy they were peddling.
In Michigan, the pair kept to their script amidst the distractions from protestors, even attempting to liken their campaign to a joyous festival. Yet, one can’t help but think that Harris might be leaning a bit too heavily on this theme. With her latest attempts to rally support appearing more scripted than spirited and accompanied by interruptions from disillusioned activists, there are serious questions about whether Harris and Walz’s “joyful” approach is effective in winning the hearts and minds of voters.
As the candidates continue to host rallies filled with over-the-top enthusiasm and marketing spins, the question looms: will voters see through the spectacle, wanting more than just party platitudes as America’s challenges grow? Vance seems to think the truth is lurking somewhere in the shadows, and it won’t be long before someone shines a light on it.
