On October 20th, CNN host Dana Bash made a surprising admission during a segment discussing Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent town hall appearance with Anderson Cooper. Bash conceded that Harris failed to “close the deal” on policy with voters and did not provide any clear legislative priorities during her time on stage.
Bash acknowledged that while Harris may be facing a different standard as the first female vice president, the lack of substance in her responses was concerning for her campaign.
Bash stated, “If her goal was to close the deal, they’re not sure she did that.” She also noted that Harris struggled with answering questions regarding her legislative priorities and was unable to name even one. Bash also pointed out that while the town hall allowed for more insight into Harris’ personality and character, it did not make up for the lack of concrete policy plans.
Harris’ lackluster performance during the town hall is just the latest in a string of shortcomings for the vice president. She has received criticism for avoiding interviews and press conferences, only recently doing a media blitz to try and improve her public image. Despite this effort, Harris’ favorability rating sits at only 45%, a concerning trend for her campaign.
A Wall Street Journal poll also showed that Harris is currently trailing former President Donald Trump by two points, with his favorability rating at 47% compared to her 45%. This gap is even more significant when considering the inclusion of third-party candidates in the polling. Harris’ performance has been lackluster, and it seems to be translating into a lack of support from voters.
Harris’ struggles are not new and have been evident throughout her political career. Her often incoherent and “word salad” responses have been a frequent criticism, along with her inability to provide detailed policy plans. This lack of substance has been further highlighted by her flip-flopping on several left-wing policies she previously supported, further calling into question her consistency and principles.
It is evident that Harris’ town hall appearance did not do much to improve her standing with voters or provide a clear vision for her potential administration.
As the vice president continues to struggle with gaining support and providing concrete plans, it becomes increasingly clear that she is not a strong candidate for the Democratic party. In contrast, Trump’s strong leadership and clear policy priorities continue to resonate with American voters, making him the preferred candidate for many.