Harris pretty much destroyed Trump in the debate, but as I keep reminding myself, this year, we can’t take anything for granted.
Nothing about this campaign is normal.
For example, seasoned political folks tell us that endorsements rarely make a difference, but then they’re focusing on the traditional endorsements issued by newspapers and political allies. It will be interesting to see whether the steady roll-out of very untraditional endorsements from sources that haven’t previously issued them will matter, and if so, how much.
According to CNBC, declarations for the Harris/Walz ticket include a recent letter from eighty-eight business leaders.
Eighty-eight corporate leaders signed a new letter Friday endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
Signers include former 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch, Snap Chairman Michael Lynton, Yelp boss Jeremy Stoppelman and Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen.
If the Democratic nominee wins the White House, they contend, “the business community can be confident that it will have a president who wants American industries to thrive.”
In the past, most business leaders have avoided taking political positions, based upon the common-sense belief that public support for one party would likely piss off customers belonging to the other party and would thus be bad for business. It is likely that the CEOs who signed this letter did so because of their conviction that a Trump victory would destabilize America and the economy in ways that would be far worse for business than some temporary partisan pique.
I think it’s unlikely that an endorsement from corporate leaders will matter to–or even be seen by– the average voter. But another group of endorsers is a lot more high-profile and far more unusual. They are the very visible Republicans who have publicly joined with “Never Trump” Republicans like those at the Bulwark and the Lincoln Project to support Kamala Harris.
A few days ago, I posted a copy of the letter signed by over 300 members of past Republican administrations, urging other members of the GOP to support Harris. Since then, both Liz Cheney and her father, former Vice-President Dick Cheney, have publicly come out in support of Harris, each of them confirming a personal intent to vote for her. (Interestingly, former Vice-President Mike Pence, who served with Trump, has said only that he will not vote for his former boss. Maybe he’ll write in “Mother”?)
Will those unprecedented endorsements–which in any other campaign would be politically earth-shaking–matter?
An article from ABC, announcing them, asked that question.
Big-name Republican endorsers of Vice President Kamala Harris are testing just how many disgruntled GOP voters are up for grabs in her race against a polarizing former President Donald Trump.
Former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, a member of pre-Trump GOP royalty, became the latest and most prominent Republican to back Harris Wednesday. Harris also has endorsements from former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., and hundreds of local Republican officials to try to puncture what her campaign views as Trump’s soft underbelly with Republican voters who are uncomfortable with the former president’s brash and unorthodox brand of politics.
The campaign’s consistent outreach is just one part of Harris’ overall path to Election Day, but now, with no bigger names left on the table for support, the vice president will likely find out if there’s more support to be had from dissatisfied Republicans — or if she’s already maxed out.
My own analysis borrows a couple of terms from economics: micro and macro.
My “micro” level analysis is necessarily limited– circumscribed by the people I personally know. Most of the Republicans I worked with back when I was a Republican are appalled by what the party has become. Those I know and still interact with loathe Trump, and are forthright in saying they intend to vote for Harris. Several have completely abandoned the GOP. Rather obviously, the new endorsements won’t affect them.
More significantly, they aren’t representative of the millions of people who voted for Trump in 2020.
That means that the “macro” question is the all-important one: how many Americans are MAGA partisans who will go to the polls and enthusiastically vote for a neo-fascist movement headed by a mentally-ill (and increasingly senile) would-be autocrat? How large is the cult that comprises his base–and (given the Electoral College) where do they live?
There are two aspects to that “macro” question: 1) how many people have actually “drunk the Kool-Aid” versus the rest of us? and (actually more consequential)–2) how many members of each of these incommensurate groups will show up to vote?
All of this ignores the weirdest question of all: how many previously politically-unengaged “Swifties” will vote thanks to Taylor Swift’s endorsement?
I am -heaven help us – depending on the Swifties to carry this election. It certainly won’t be the most bizarre aspect of the whole thing.
“In the past, most business leaders have avoided taking political positions, based upon the common-sense belief that public support for one party would likely piss off customers belonging to the other party and would thus be bad for business.”
Personally I am seriously pisssed at the lack of quality of products and services provided by businesses at all levels. Can we rely on food value in the poor quality of produce in stores today; which can now be found in frozen and canned fruits and vegetables by the once trusted companies. It is also found in our better restaurants who have no better sources for quality foods to serve. Clothing manufacturers all have their own sizing charts so we can’t rely on proper fit when ordering on line. Maybe the celebrities are a better judge of government than corporations who want lower taxes and much, much higher level or profits.
“All of this ignores the weirdest question of all: how many previously politically-unengaged “Swifties” will vote thanks to Taylor Swift’s endorsement?” Being totally deaf I have never heard or seen Taylor Swift perform but I will follow her to the polls to vote for the Harris/Walz ballot and full down ballot.
The question is, beyond all of those business and powerful political leader’s and former GOPers’ endorsements, just how many of the 280 million Swifties will be motivated to help save democracy in America? It may sound crazy but that is one hell of a lot of followers.
From Heather Cox Richardson in yesterday’s letter: “Meanwhile, by 2:00 this afternoon, Taylor Swift’s endorsement had prompted 337,826 people to start the process of registering to vote.”
Unions taught us a century ago that workers need to organize if they want to meet with corporations as equals. The same is true of campaigns. Join together with campaign experts. Work the phones, streets, and Internet. There is a job for everyone.
Swift-boating, 2024-style.
Don’t worry, JoAnn, I’m not deaf, but I have never listened to Taylor’s music or videos. It’s not my kind of music, but she has a global following, which is very impressive.
If Kamala didn’t destroy Trump during a debate, I’d be worried. As a practicing lawyer, a debate is perfect for her, and it’s bad for Trump. I read that he is already trying to wiggle out of future debates. He’s blaming his performance on the two network moderators. If he can’t get past two lame ABC broadcasters, he doesn’t deserve to be POTUS. This is why all the Republican officials run to a Murdoch-owned rag since they get treated tenderly.
More devastating than Swifty endorsing Kamala is Lindsey Graham hammering Trump. Graham is a huge MAGAT, and he’s openly telling Trump he blew it against Kamala. That has to hurt Trump’s fragile ego. Graham is also calling out the two lame media hosts for correcting Trump’s incessant lying and blaming. One way to keep the moderators out of the conversation is to tell the truth. It shouldn’t be hard, except that Trump lies so often that he can’t remember them all.
One last note: Speaker Johnson won’t leave Trump’s side. He is on record as saying recently that if “we allow same-sex marriages, we are paving the road for people to marry their pets.”
I suppose God told him so…
Endorsements may be moot if there is an “October Surprise.” Anyone have an idea what that might be, and will it preclude an election in November?
The only endorsement Former President Trump mentioned in The Debate was from the dictator of Hungary. Then he complains about the fairness of ABC moderators after The Debate. MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle reported that Trump spoke 39 times for a total of 41.9 minutes, to Harris’ 23 times for a total of 37.1 minutes. Perhaps “the bully emperor without clothes” was extremely unfair only to himself because when given ample air time over his opponent, he is incapable of thinking what is best for the American People. Trump can’t find truth in the words to endorse himself!
Speculation can be fun. It can also lead to overconfidence and failure to do the most important thing of all, vote. I’m happy to know there are over 300,000 new voter registrations, driven by Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris and her note to her followers that they have to register to vote. She is obviously smart enough to understand that her followers might not be smart enough to know that.
Trump got beat by a Girl! I’m so happy. I can’t believe the way these two debates have changed the election! First Biden dropped out and now, we see, the sick, demented old fool that couldn’t even look at her! What a coward. Swifties are going to make this election historic!
Even more dangerous than electing the orange guy is the very real possibility that his Project 2025 choice for VP could end up as our President if the extremely wealthy orange guy supporters decide to remove him after being elected. The thought of evil Vance as Prez is very frightening. I have no doubt that he was handpicked by Project 2025 leaders/supporters and they instructed the orange guy to announce that he picked Vance.
Let’s keep in mind that out of 280 million Swifty followers, many may not be old enough to vote.
As a former life long republican, campaign worker & manager, ward chairman and PC , GOP officeholder, and city, county and state employee forced out by the Tea Party to become an Independent.
I witnessed the GOP taken over by some of the craziest anti government no nothings I have ever seen and that has continued their over the cliff coyote fall with all of us waiting for the puff of dust when he hits bottom.
I finally see that day coming up faster and faster every time Trump and Vance open their mouths. Our former GOP only exists in 3 Capitol letters it’s now the Cult of Trump party that is aging out and falling away with every sun set. Biden was no longer the man to beat trump but Harris is as good a choice as the democrats could ever field on short notice but I believe she will steer the Democrats back toward the center and when the dust settles at the base of the cliff only then can the Grand Old Party rebuild a more right center party back, exiling all of maga to the trash can of Americas close call politics we have faced as a nation thru our short 240 year history.
I do expect to see a maga militia movement try to take back the field by some force but I believe we as a nation will be ready to meet their “domestic enemy” threat with the full force of our police and military assets like we would a forign “enemy threat” to our nation.
The thing to watch for now is the election cheating the enemy with in the gears of government stand ready with the wrenches but I believe the legal beagles of the American Bar will be the first line of defense of our constitution and engage the enemy’s of democracy the moment the voter doors close.
We the vast majority of Americans are not a nation divided, we are a nation of different opinions about lots of things it’s what’s made us successful, but we believe deeply in the 240 years of nation building we have achieved and do not want to see it destroyed by one man with a craving for power and authority over us all at his wishes and command.