Imagining a Harris presidency
About a month before President Joe Biden ended his bid for a second term, Rodney Smolla, a constitutional scholar and president of Vermont Law and Graduate School, gave a fascinating lecture at the United Church of Strafford about the 2024 election.
In a witty discourse more than an hour long, Smolla discussed two competing global visions: Trump’s transactional isolationism and Biden’s traditional engagement.
Surprisingly, there was no mention of Trump’s crimes. Rather, Smolla said, “No matter who wins some 80 to 90 million voters would have voted for the other person.” American democracy is complicated, he seemed to be suggesting.
American democracy, with differences between the electoral college and popular vote outcomes, has been always complicated. At the conclusion of his talk, Smolla wondered whether Trump, whom he called “a pugilist” who doesn’t have much respect for law or the constitution, would keep his word in accepting the outcome. Keeping this in mind I believe that “The Prosecutor v. Felon” trope is not going to help Democrats to win the presidential election. Defeating Donald Trump decisively at the ballot box rather than waiting for the courts to decide the former president’s myriad criminal cases would be a more robust way to empower the electorate and rejuvenate democratic values.The “prosecutor vs. felon” contrast is not going to help Democrats to win the presidential election. Defeating Donald Trump decisively at the ballot box rather than waiting for the courts to decide the former president’s myriad criminal cases would be a more robust way to empower the electorate and rejuvenate democratic values.
A court ruling against Trump could provoke a significant backlash, particularly among his base, who might see it as an illegitimate attempt to steal the election from their candidate. By defeating Trump electorally, Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz would minimize this backlash, ensuring that the outcome is viewed as a legitimate expression of the people’s will. The courts, though indispensable to the rule of law, should not dominate our lives.
No wonder, then, that the Harris- Walz campaign is focusing on energizing the electorate. Their campaign strategy centers on engaging and mobilizing key constituencies — young voters, minorities, women, moderates, independents and disillusioned Republicans who may feel particularly motivated to oppose Trump. By building a broad coalition, Harris and Walz are attempting to create a decisive electoral advantage. By presenting a clear and compelling policy vision, especially about economy, crime, immigration, China and Russia that contrasts with Trump's, they would win voters on the merits of their platform, regardless of Trump’s legal problems.
The Harris-Walz strategy focuses on contrasting their optimistic vision for America with Trump's darker portrayal of the country's future. They are positioning themselves as 'joyful warriors,' aiming to restore a sense of hope in American politics. This strategy seeks to inspire voters by focusing on uplifting messages rather than divisive rhetoric. Their emphasis on commonalities among Americans, advocating for a vision of unity and opportunity contrasts with Trump's strategy, which exploits societal divisions for electoral gain.
While the campaign focuses on positivity, it also recognizes the importance of addressing economic issues such as inflation and rising costs. Like Biden, Harris has pledged to advocate for middle and working class people because economic solutions remain a critical component to selling her platform to a wide swath of voters.
Harris announced a most am-
HARRIS C2
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she boards Air Force Two on Thursday at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Savannah, Ga., after a bus tour and campaign rally.
AP — JACQUELYN MARTIN
By NARAIN BATRA
For the Valley News
bitious economic agenda that aims to lower economic pressures on American families including eliminating medical debts for millions of Americans; a $25,000 subsidy for first-time home buyers; a $6,000-per-child tax credit for families for the first year of a child’s life; a ban on price gouging at grocery stores; and not to raise taxes on Americans earning less than $400,000 annually. And Medicare benefits contained in the Inflation Reduction Act (2022), such as out-of-pocket insulin cost at $35 and prescription drug cost of $2,000 would be extended to all Americans; and much more.
By leveraging a message of hope, optimism and unity and a clear economic vision to benefit working-class families and small businesses, the Harris-Walz campaign aims to energize and expand its voter base by appealing to both urban and rural constituencies. The campaign seeks to transcend traditional political divisions and present a hopeful alternative to Trump's more pessimistic outlook.
But Trump is a formidable adversary. Behind his theater of the absurd — demeaning utterances, buffoonery, falsehood, womanizing, racism, sexism — there’s a political genius with fierce determination and a vision, albeit contorted, that appeals to millions. Beating him is not going to be easy because, despite his numerous legal, political and social controversies, he remains a powerful political figure. His ability to retain influence, even amid the scandals and challenges, and an assassination attempt, can be attributed to a combination of personal appeal, political strategy and the broader dynamics of American politics.
Trump’s populist message has been a central component of his political staying power. He capitalizes on a sense of grievance among working-class voters who feel left behind by globalization, technological change and the country’s shifting cultural norms. His 'America First' platform, which emphasizes protectionist trade policies, anti-immigration stances and skepticism of international institutions is based on what Smolla calls a transactional art of the deal.
Trump is an expert in media manipulation and branding. He has leveraged this media savvy to maintain a near-constant presence, often turning scandals or controversies into opportunities to galvanize his supporters. His use of social media allows him to communicate directly with his followers, bypassing traditional media outlets that he often derides as biased or 'fake news.'
His ability to control his narrative and dominate media coverage has kept him publicly prominent and ensured that his messaging reaches beyond his base. In this way, even negative press can sometimes work to his advantage, reinforcing the perception among his supporters that he is under attack by powerful forces but indestructible. Many of his supporters believe he is being unfairly targeted by a politically motivated “deep state” or the legal system and see him as a martyr figure standing up to corrupt elites.
Trump has also tapped into the culture wars that dominate much of American political discourse. His vocal opposition to progressive social movements (such as Black Lives Matter and transgender rights) has made him a champion of those who feel threatened by what they perceive as a leftward shift in American culture.
But Trump is not unbeatable. To win a conclusive victory, the Harris-Walz campaign must go beyond pocketbook, crime and immigration issues and create a vision of America so powerful, captivating and persuasive, that it transcends Trump’s isolationist, polarizing, racist, apocalyptic rhetorical vision.
Imagine, with Kamala Harris in the White House, America would travel “the road not taken,” and, as President Biden said at the recent Democratic National Convention, “Her story represents the best American story…. She’ll be a president our children can look up to. … She will be a historic president who puts her stamp on America’s future.”
Narain Batra lives in Hartford.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris disembarks from Air Force Two on Thursday upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Md.
AP — SAUL LOEB
