Democrats want to believe Harris is the real deal - that's why she must deliver the speech of her life
The election is still ten weeks away in the US and anything could happen. What's for sure is doubts linger over Kamala Harris, even if she's given the Democrats a chance of beating Donald Trump to the White House.
Friday 23 August 2024 04:49, UK
Tonight in Chicago,聽Kamala Harris has to make the speech of her life.
Not because the election is over if she doesn't - that would be ridiculous, there's a long way to go.
If you think about what happened in two weeks from 13 July when Trump was shot, then imagine what could happen in 10 weeks.
No, she has to make the speech of her life to settle the nerves in a party desperately trying to conceal the doubts they have about her.
The excitement and the hoopla, this wave of euphoria washing over the Democrats, is less about a conviction that she's the one and more about a sense of relief that, with Joe Biden moving aside, at least now they have a chance.
Because the truth is they have rallied around a candidate who just weeks ago was not considered a better choice than Biden himself.
He effectively got the nomination. They figured he was the best bet. Even at 81 and showing it.
Kamala Harris was not seen as a natural leader until the Democrat hierarchy panicked and decided they NEEDED her to be seen as a natural leader.
So all this stuff about Kamala being the chosen one, the president-in-waiting, the history maker just biding her time in the wings, may be true… but only in the context of the party's urgent predicament with Joe Biden.
Privately, thoughtful Democrats know that. Publicly, they would never say it.
In short, they are yet to be convinced that she is the real deal.
And that is why the speech of her life would be very timely. Not least because it would validate the decision to move against Biden as, indeed, the early polling has done.
Is Harris the real deal?
The speech is just the start. There will then follow the hard yards in this campaign… the debates, the interviews, the reactions to events unforeseen.
Kamala Harris must put forward a vision and state clearly what she stands for.
At the moment, polls show voters still trust the Republicans on key issues such as the economy, inflation, immigration and crime.
Every so often in politics there comes along someone who has it all.
They look the part; they sound the part; they are of their time.
Think Roosevelt, Reagan, Obama, and on this side of the Atlantic, Thatcher and Blair.
Some divisive, some flawed, but all what you could describe as the real deal.
There is no decision to make if you are of their party - you invest your belief in them and let them do their thing.
But 'real deals' are a rarity.
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And no amount of saying it's so and hoping it's so can make it so.
Democrats know in their hearts that Harris is no Obama, but she is the best shot they have right now and time is running out.
Democrats hold their breath - Republicans hold their nose
So, almost by default it's Trump v Harris.
The Republicans reluctantly concede he is their best chance despite the multitude of misgivings about his character and the fear of what he may do in office.
And talking of fear - that is what he has instilled in the Republican machine. They are literally scared of him.
Nikki Haley said it back in February when running for the Republican nomination: "Of course, many of the same politicians who now publicly embrace Trump privately dread him.
"They know what a disaster he's been and will continue to be for our party. They're just too afraid to say it out loud."
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She would say the same now save for her loyalty to the party.
And as for the Democrats, they are just happy to have removed the old party stalwart deteriorating before their eyes.
They knew he was leading them irreversibly towards defeat.
But one anxiety has been replaced by another. From "is he too old?" to "is she really up to it?"
That's broadly where I think we are 10 weeks out from the election.
Simply put, the Republicans are holding their noses and the Democrats are holding their breath.