Unlike 2016, when his victory over Hillary Clinton came as a shock to many Americans, Trump was no surprise in 2024. The Democratic Party had the benefit of four years to ensure that this would not happen again. Yet as in 2016, Democrats appear to have failed to win over the electorate in a race against a uniquely unpopular candidate — this time one with multiple impeachments, indictments, and criminal convictions.
The short-lived Biden campaign and subsequent Harris campaign opted to try to beat Republicans at their own game, by tacking rightward on issues such as immigration, criminal justice, and climate. After President Joe Biden dropped out, the Democratic Party rejected calls to stop providing arms to Israel’s war on Gaza. Instead, Harris touted the endorsements of conservatives such as Liz Cheney. The strategy was a ploy to woo moderates and conservatives wary of a second Trump term, but it may have alienated key voting blocs.
I’ve seen this put a different way. That she didn’t separate herself adequately fromas Biden, in this case the economy. But, that’s the problem for a politician as the minute any c she separates on one issue, others will be asked about. Then the story is about perceived failures, rightly or wrongly. Most young voters have never been through an inflation cycle. They don’t realize that that they are pretty natural, and also this one was controlled well. You just ride them out. But, I doubt you could point to this issue as a sole cause.