There have been a lot of moments in American politics when candidates realize they’re trailing badly in the polls, so they do something extreme in an effort to win some support. It usually doesn’t work out too well. Think of the “Dean Scream” back in 2004, which was supposed to rally the base after a tough loss in the Iowa caucuses. It ended up being played about 600 times on cable news until Dean dropped out of the race. Or if you want to go back further, think of George McGovern’s plan to shake up the race in 1972 by picking a totally unvetted running mate. That was exciting right up until it emerged that his running mate had received electro-shock therapy several times to treat his chronic mental illness. McGovern ended up losing 49 states.
As we enter the homestretch of the 2024 presidential election, it’s clear that the Kamala Harris campaign now finds itself in a similar desperation mode. They’re trailing badly in pretty much every important poll and prediction market that matters. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz admit that they’re now the “underdogs” in the race. And so, inevitably, they’re feeling the pressure to do something unthinkable in a desperate attempt to win back votes. They have to throw out the playbook and try a new strategy.
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