Kamdyn McClain is a junior majoring in finance.
On Wednesday, Donald Trump marked what is unquestionably the greatest political comeback in American history. After Jan. 6, 2021, Trump was a political pariah. Leaving office with a 29 percent approval rating, his political career was seemingly over. Yet, he eventually announced his intention to run for the presidency, a week after a disappointing showing for the GOP in the midterms. By that time, Trump’s Mar-A-Lago estate had already been raided in a classified documents investigation as he stared down the barrel of multiple criminal cases, some of which he would be indicted and found guilty of. The Republican Party was severely hobbled, as they held onto slim control of the House while Democrats controlled the Senate.
Still, Trump’s approval ratings improved, as he framed himself as a political martyr that defied a corrupt ruling class using lawfare to destroy him. After President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July following his weak debate performance opposite Trump in the weeks prior, Vice President Kamala Harris was given 107 days to convince the American people that she had what it took to serve as president. And the Democratic Party seemed to have thought that because of Trump’s history, the election was in the bag, and that, despite it all, they ran a fantastic campaign. But this is patently false, and, without introspection, the Democratic Party will descend deeper into hopelessness.
Harris was thrust into the spotlight in an unprecedented manner. Her entrance to the top of the ticket was one unlike any we have seen in modern politics — without any votes cast. The timing of Biden’s dropout, followed by his endorsement of Harris, made a primary almost impossible. Given this, criticism of Democratic Party leadership and Biden is fair, as the process was wholly undemocratic. However, this does not excuse Harris for the failures that took place in the 107 days of her candidacy.
I must preface this by saying I did not vote for Kamala Harris, I am not a Democrat and I am a supporter of President-elect Trump. But I do offer a perspective on the several mistakes Harris made in her campaign. I grew up in a small Appalachian town, 90 minutes south of Buffalo, New York — a foreign world to many who go to GW and live in D.C. My county is overwhelmingly Republican, with white working-class voters making up the majority of the electorate. I have seen the impacts of globalization, hollowed-out factories, addiction and economic rot. I understand and embrace Trump’s appeal, making Harris’ first major decision even more of a head-scratcher — running mate Tim Walz.
A close friend, who works for a Democratic member of Congress, shot me a text after Election Day: “Walz is a f*cking joke… he’s a caricature of what moronic consultants in New York and D.C. think people are like from where we grew up.” The Walz pick for vice president seemed to be an attempt to connect with noncollege-educated white men – a constituency long gone in the Democratic Party. As my friend pointed out, Walz’s persona was totally synthetic. Democrats playing up his time as a high school football defensive coordinator, referring to him as “Coach Walz,” and posting incoherent football references on social media, which not only backfired but also demeaned the people they were trying to reach. Democratic Party consultants have become so far removed from the white working class that their attempts to appeal to them, rightfully, are seen as pandering. Many of the people from my hometown see Walz, a man who’s supposed to represent them, as not only unrepresentative of them but also as actively opposed to their values.
I have also seen Harris’ loss being blamed on a racist and misogynistic undercurrent in American society. Viral social media posts have said that “America failed women,” among a multitude of other groups. Assuming this argument has merit, it is not the United States that failed women, it is Harris who failed them. Her inability to build a coherent message and distance herself from Biden’s record ultimately dealt the death blow to her candidacy. Her word salad and seeming lack of preparedness at times alienated swing voters who are critical in winning any election, let alone one for the highest office in the land. Any attempts to pin this loss solely on her race or gender are misguided and will only dig the Democratic Party into a deeper hole.
Harris lost for a very simple reason — she did not understand the country she sought to preside over. Harris downplayed the devastating effects of inflation on lower- and middle-income Americans, while holding star-studded rallies with guests who are unaffected by the economic challenges felt by many. Since Biden assumed office, the average family of four is “paying an additional $17,080 a year,” according to the House Budget Committee. My home county has a median income of $56,889, meaning many people are living paycheck to paycheck and unable to keep up with inflation. The effect of a presidential nominee playing it down cannot be overstated.
Donald Trump, though an imperfect vessel, has a real and deep connection with those who support him. For better or worse, he is authentically himself. Many politicians are chameleons, dressing and acting a certain way based on their crowd. Trump dons the same suit, tie and New York idiolect no matter his crowd or location. When candidates are running in the Iowa Caucus, for example, it is customary for them to visit farms. Many candidates look out of place, as they put on a flannel shirt and jeans in an attempt to look relatable. Trump, to his credit, does not try to be anything he is not. There is a certain charm in a politician who seems above the character molding that has infected and destroyed many politicians.
Outside of the Beltway and coastal cities is an America that is deeply hurting, an America desperate for a fighter and an America that is resentful of a ruling class that has disdain for them. Harris was the ultimate test in this — a candidate who failed miserably in her first run for president, now being propped up by party elites and a media desperate to avoid another four years of Trump. Lacking was a real connection with voters, the most fundamental prerequisite for becoming a successful politician. Some may read this piece and label, or name-call, me, but it is that “holier than thou” mentality that has them in this position today. So to those people, I ask that they enjoy the next four years of Trump.
