Kamala Harris’s 2024 Presidential campaign kicked off unexpectedly yet dynamically, following President Joe Biden’s dramatic withdrawal from the race earlier this summer. The announcement came over the phone, with Biden recognizing his dwindling support among Democratic voters and choosing to endorse Harris as his successor. Fortunately for Harris, by the time this message came through, her campaign was already mobilizing—in the shadows.
On July 21, as she flipped pancakes for her family in the Vice Presidential residence, Harris prepared not just for leisurely moments, but for the pivotal challenges her new role would demand. Biden's exit had left her with little time and growing doubts among party strategists about her viability as the nominee, largely due to her low approval ratings from the prior years and fierce competition from several high-profile Democrats.
Harris quickly gathered her team for what felt like both an impromptu meeting and the culmination of years of political maneuvering. It was time to kick down the door to power, much like she expressed at previous rallies, firmly stating, “Sometimes people will open the door for you and leave it open. Sometimes they won’t. And then you need to kick down the f**ing door.”
Since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Harris had been steering her staff to build connections nationwide, creating pathways to haunt her potential challengers even before the election had formalized. This groundwork proved beneficial; as soon as her candidacy was solidified, she reached out to influential political figures and organizations, collecting pledges of support before most even realized what was happening.
By the end of her first day as the presumptive nominee, Harris was already fielding endorsements from various unions and gathering pledges from key delegates. Many observers expected this process would need to stretch out quietly over several weeks, but Harris’s swift actions were making waves. David Axelrod, former advisor to President Obama, commended her rapid mobilization, likening it to “a rapid military strike” rather than the slow pace often expected of such significant political movements.
Despite this flurry of activity, challenges loomed large for the VP. A recent Gallup poll indicated Biden’s approval rating had hit rock bottom, with more than half of voters disapproving of his handling of current issues, posing questions about Harris’s ability to establish her own identity as candidate.
Her campaign strategy required deft navigation. Harris argues she is different from Biden and wants to turn the page, yet her biggest struggle was articulately delineate what those differences are. During her appearance on ABC’s The View, when asked what she would do differently from the incumbent administration, she faltered, stating, “there is not a thing” she could think of. This impression, alone, warrants concern as the campaign progresses.
The electoral environment appears complicated and tilted ever more toward Republican advantage since voters have become less loyal to the Democratic party. A Maryland report surfaced displaying decreased Democratic voter registration—cutting their lead from over 680,000 to approximately 325,000 since the Biden presidency began. This trend could disrupt the balance needed during the upcoming election.
While the economy is the centerpiece of voter concerns, data suggests faith lies with former President Trump to manage it competently, even with positive economic indicators from the current administration. This incongruity has Harris’s campaign scrambling to regain footing among those populaces, urgently voicing how her leadership would usher new economic policies to break away from the turmoil of the past.
Coinciding with her administrative approach, Harris also adopted unorthodox methods of outreach. The vice president strategically took her message beyond traditional political venues to podcasts, satellite radio, and other alternative media outlets to attract broader audience attention. She made appearances on shows such as Call Her Daddy, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and even the Weather Channel, discussing policy matters directly with the electorate.
This strategy drew mixed reactions, with some mainstream reporters expressing discomfort over her decision to bypass conventional journalism as gatekeepers to reach voters. These interviews provided more personal elements to her campaign, touching on topics affecting average Americans, thereby framing her narrative around relatable experiences and the goals of her administration.
Although critiques of her strategy arise, focusing instead on the effectiveness of her messaging could prove more fruitful. Questions of how she might handle issues as president, aside from echoing Biden's administration, are centered. Harris’s plan emphasizes progress—by positioning herself as a champion of new technology, infrastructure, and securing the border first which are nevertheless capturing the attention of potential allies.
Scientific and public figures witness the significance of her candidacy, calling attention to the changing dynamics within the Democratic Party and broader American politics. According to The New Yorker,* traditional campaigning methods risk being eclipsed by alternative connections. Harris is using contemporary platforms to energize the young voters of today who are shaping the political narrative with ideas and energies rooted deeply in urgency to address climate change and social justice.
With the election merely weeks away, the outcome remains unpredictable. While Kamala Harris stands confidently, she must pull from both the cultural zeitgeist and the momentum gained through rapid organizational strategies to keep her base unified against her rivals. This era of political volatility—a tepid battle against Trump’s figure still occupies the forefront of political discussion—is leading voters to calling for genuine change, something Harris must assure them is on the horizon.
The road to the election may be fraught, yet those closest to Harris stress her capability to alter the existing political equations. The impending election demands clarity. Her narrative must evolve, as must her engagement amid rising dollar amounts from her campaign to secure the voters' trust. Right now, as campaign efforts continue, one single question lingers for Kamala Harris: can she turn her rapid gains and late endorsement momentum—demonstrated by thousands of volunteers and campaign contributions—into genuine electoral support against the backdrop of fluctuated loyalties?
