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Kamala Harris Changes the Race While Trump Tells on Himself | Kamala Harris Changes the Race While Trump Tells on Himself |
(14 days later) | |
Welcome to our weekly analysis of the state of the 2020 campaign. | Welcome to our weekly analysis of the state of the 2020 campaign. |
After a primary campaign that consumed all of 2019 and the first three months of 2020, followed by an extended vice-presidential search, the Democratic ticket was finally settled this week, in what was always widely considered to be a likely pairing: a Biden-Harris ticket. | After a primary campaign that consumed all of 2019 and the first three months of 2020, followed by an extended vice-presidential search, the Democratic ticket was finally settled this week, in what was always widely considered to be a likely pairing: a Biden-Harris ticket. |
But the history-making announcement of Senator Kamala Harris as Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s running mate still felt electrifying to Democrats, who donated $50 million to the Biden campaign in the two days after the pick (to put that in perspective, Mr. Biden raised just over $60 million in all of 2019). | But the history-making announcement of Senator Kamala Harris as Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s running mate still felt electrifying to Democrats, who donated $50 million to the Biden campaign in the two days after the pick (to put that in perspective, Mr. Biden raised just over $60 million in all of 2019). |
The Trump administration tried to celebrate, too. “She was my number one draft pick,” Mr. Trump told reporters, even though campaign officials had said a week earlier that their preferred running mate for Mr. Biden was Susan E. Rice, the former national security adviser. | The Trump administration tried to celebrate, too. “She was my number one draft pick,” Mr. Trump told reporters, even though campaign officials had said a week earlier that their preferred running mate for Mr. Biden was Susan E. Rice, the former national security adviser. |
Vice President Mike Pence appeared on Fox News to tell the host Sean Hannity, “‘I like the matchup.” He added, “It’s on.” | Vice President Mike Pence appeared on Fox News to tell the host Sean Hannity, “‘I like the matchup.” He added, “It’s on.” |
He was right about the last part. With both tickets now settled, the final phase of the campaign season finally kicks into gear, with Democrats newly hopeful that an end to the Trump presidency is in sight, and Republicans now equipped with a full picture of the ticket they need to beat to stay in power. | He was right about the last part. With both tickets now settled, the final phase of the campaign season finally kicks into gear, with Democrats newly hopeful that an end to the Trump presidency is in sight, and Republicans now equipped with a full picture of the ticket they need to beat to stay in power. |
The political whiplash after Ms. Harris’s selection was jolting. Progressives who had helped sink her presidential candidacy now sang her praises. Moderates who felt her campaign was uneven and without message are now calling her the future of the Democratic Party. | The political whiplash after Ms. Harris’s selection was jolting. Progressives who had helped sink her presidential candidacy now sang her praises. Moderates who felt her campaign was uneven and without message are now calling her the future of the Democratic Party. |
Even her fellow contenders for the running mate job, who had privately pushed for months that Ms. Harris was a poor match for Mr. Biden, immediately reversed course — saying she would not only make a loyal number two, but is well-positioned to make the job her own someday. | Even her fellow contenders for the running mate job, who had privately pushed for months that Ms. Harris was a poor match for Mr. Biden, immediately reversed course — saying she would not only make a loyal number two, but is well-positioned to make the job her own someday. |
In part, this is a party eager to project unity in an effort to defeat Mr. Trump. Yet Democratic leaders also know what is clear to anyone who followed Ms. Harris’s presidential campaign: the role of vice president highlights many of her best qualities, and likely insulates her from the political dynamics that contributed to her dropping out of the presidential campaign. Consider some of the challenges she faced while campaigning for president and how the role of running mate is different. | In part, this is a party eager to project unity in an effort to defeat Mr. Trump. Yet Democratic leaders also know what is clear to anyone who followed Ms. Harris’s presidential campaign: the role of vice president highlights many of her best qualities, and likely insulates her from the political dynamics that contributed to her dropping out of the presidential campaign. Consider some of the challenges she faced while campaigning for president and how the role of running mate is different. |
Mr. Trump has never been accused of subtlety. Even in controversy, when it is politically unhelpful, or when some aides implore him not to, he has rarely couched his political intentions in mystery. This week was the latest example, when the president gave the most explicit read out of his election strategy — financially hamstring the United States Postal Service in order to discredit mail-in voting and scare white people about people of color moving to the suburbs. These are his words from this week: | Mr. Trump has never been accused of subtlety. Even in controversy, when it is politically unhelpful, or when some aides implore him not to, he has rarely couched his political intentions in mystery. This week was the latest example, when the president gave the most explicit read out of his election strategy — financially hamstring the United States Postal Service in order to discredit mail-in voting and scare white people about people of color moving to the suburbs. These are his words from this week: |
During the Democratic primary, Mr. Trump never knew quite what to do about Ms. Harris, in part because he didn’t need to (her campaign was over and done with before the primaries started in January). | During the Democratic primary, Mr. Trump never knew quite what to do about Ms. Harris, in part because he didn’t need to (her campaign was over and done with before the primaries started in January). |
The president commended the crowd size of her campaign kickoff rally. He talked about her “nasty wit,” a jab that was neither here nor there. It appeared that a woman of color presented a minefield for a president who was, at that point in the race, attempting to expand his coalition, particularly among Black voters and white suburban women. | The president commended the crowd size of her campaign kickoff rally. He talked about her “nasty wit,” a jab that was neither here nor there. It appeared that a woman of color presented a minefield for a president who was, at that point in the race, attempting to expand his coalition, particularly among Black voters and white suburban women. |
Now, it’s a different story. Mr. Trump is running against a ticket that includes Ms. Harris, and he currently feels like he is losing. | Now, it’s a different story. Mr. Trump is running against a ticket that includes Ms. Harris, and he currently feels like he is losing. |
In the hours after Ms. Harris’ selection, the president resuscitated the racist conspiracy theory of birtherism that has been part of his political brand since before he entered politics. | In the hours after Ms. Harris’ selection, the president resuscitated the racist conspiracy theory of birtherism that has been part of his political brand since before he entered politics. |
“I heard it today that she doesn’t meet the requirements,” Mr. Trump said of Ms. Harris, making a false assertion that Ms. Harris, born in California, was not eligible for the national office because her parents were immigrants. He also called her “angry” and “nasty.” | “I heard it today that she doesn’t meet the requirements,” Mr. Trump said of Ms. Harris, making a false assertion that Ms. Harris, born in California, was not eligible for the national office because her parents were immigrants. He also called her “angry” and “nasty.” |
Were the attacks surprising? No. Was it shocking nonetheless to hear Mr. Trump give voice to a racist conspiracy theory from the White House? Yes. | Were the attacks surprising? No. Was it shocking nonetheless to hear Mr. Trump give voice to a racist conspiracy theory from the White House? Yes. |