Staff Reports
Horse traders hunkering down for the 2024 election season got quite the surprise this week as the Democratic National Convention unfolded. According to online political betting markets, the momentum has swung decidedly back to former President Donald Trump, leaving observers to question just what the Democratic Party was thinking when they lined up their festivities in Chicago.
At Polymarket, where wagers are placed on who will win the election, Trump has surged ahead with a 52% likelihood of victory compared to Vice President Kamala Harris’s 47%. This marks a vivid reversal from earlier predictions that had Harris holding a slim lead. The swing of nine points is simply stunning and appears to debunk the notion that the DNC was a success handily. It seems that the more Americans see the Democrats’ over-the-top production, the more they yearn for some common sense—preferably from the Trump camp.
Polymarket shows a Trump 3% gain in the betting market.
Even with the DNC convention in full swing, you’d expect Komrade Kamala would be pulling ahead. The honeymoon must be over for now. pic.twitter.com/GN4ooiEyob
— Andrea Shaffer, Employment/Labor Law (@Andreafreedom76) August 20, 2024
Critics had a ball pointing out the clamor of chaos surrounding the DNC—riots erupting around the city, teleprompter mishaps that are probably featured on the blooper reel, and programming delays long enough to make a sloth feel rushed. Harris has been conspicuously absent, avoiding the media like the plague while her spokesperson does the heavy lifting, attempting to reassure everyone that Harris will eventually make an appearance. In true political form, Biden’s advisors were clearly not thrilled with how the convention dragged into the late hours, and it’s almost comical how they spun the lengthy delays as caused by exuberant applause. Talk about a clown show!
Once she finally peeled herself away from the press, Harris was caught in a veritable verbal mashup that might have confused even the strongest supporters watching from home. When pressed about her widely criticized economic plan—eerily similar to Venezuela’s disastrous policies—Harris offered up a muddled response that left many wondering what she had actually said. Her grand ideas included price fixes for groceries and large payments to new homeowners, proving that the administration is still pushing its “something-for-nothing” agenda. Yet, amid all the hoopla, when asked how she plans to fund these dreams, her answers could hardly be termed coherent.
The next big showdown will come around September 10th on ABC, where Trump and Harris will finally face off in a debate. Trump, who isn’t one to shy away from a fight, has had some legal spats with network anchor George Stephanopoulos, and he’s hoping for a fair fight on his turf, Fox News. Viewers will be closely watching how Harris handles tough questions, particularly about her questionable performance as the so-called “border czar.” With Trump emphasizing Harris’s alleged lack of intelligence and slicing through the nonsense during his press conferences, the spotlight is firmly on her to step up and actually deliver this time.
As the election approaches, it becomes abundantly clear: the more Democrats try to dazzle with their spectacle, the more Americans appear to be rallying behind Trump's straightforwardness. Time will tell if Harris can tighten up her act for the upcoming debate, but judging from the current betting trends, it may be a long road ahead for the Democrats as they navigate the turbulent waters they’ve set for themselves.
