Z, and draws the younger generation into her cause by doing so; and, though statements of hers on matters like climate change and culture wars oftentimes ends in a word salad, she at least acknowledges the issues. It is for these reasons that various constituent groups have
so quickly embraced her candidacy. She needs to lean harder into this aspect of herself.
However, a run for the presidency requires a higher level of discipline. She will have to focus on ensuring what she says off-the-cuff aligns with the scripted messages delivered to particular audiences. In other words, she must appear not only presidential both to Americans and world leaders but also become a president who embraces her human side. One reason for Trump’s success is he speaks the language of his constituency, whether he believes such or not. He also spoke to his constituency through mediums and means they used. That meant, in past elections, social media platforms such as Twitter (now X). Harris has, and will need to continue, to speak to her constituency in a similar way. She needs to speak to the democratic base, as well as the yet undecided voters. Fortunately for her, she speaks easily and well regarding issues concerning women and minorities; and she can speak and engage younger voters, having children in her own family. She also has embraced not just the old social media platforms used by Trump and others, but she has welcomed and taken advantage of newer platforms used by younger voters. For this reason, it is Trump that seems out of touch – which will play to her advantage.
But Harris cannot rely solely on mediums and media. She must remain relevant in terms of policy, and she can do so by continuing to press on the issues that most resonate with Democratic voters and yet undecided independent voters. On the domestic side of things, this means pressing on issues like abortion, gun control, civil rights, more equitable tax structures, the economy, inflation,
and climate change. It does not mean pressing on issues like Supreme Court reform: not only is that a controversial and abstract issue that voters will not understand, but it has very little chance of succeeding (so let Biden take the lead and the heat on that one). On the foreign policy side of things, this means supporting NATO generally and Ukraine specifically, as well as continuing to raise concerns over the alliances being formed between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. It does not mean pressing on new approaches to the border issue, the deportation of migrants from Mexico, or fall into Trump’s traps that claims of other countries taking advantage of U.S. border policies to export their criminals and mentally challenged individuals to America. She needs to defend the Biden-Harris record, which is arguably better than Trump’s was, while offering new approaches. Here, again, greater discipline will substantially help.
Engaging Rhetoric that Combines High Ideals with Mastery of Detail
Harris must engage in proper political rhetoric. This is a rhetoric that combines high ideals with a mastery of detail. And there is some evidence, at least initially, that Harris is willing to engage in such an approach.
For example, one of the earliest attacks Harris made when making the case against Trump was “we’re not going back!” It was a comment
Harris cannot rely solely on mediums and media. She must remain relevant in terms of policy, and she can do so by continuing to press on the issues that most resonate with Democratic voters and yet undecided independent voters.
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