Even now, after Kamala Harris delivered the most significant speech of her career and officially accepted the Democratic presidential nomination, I still feel no connection to my fellow Californians.
It’s all about networking, right? Sometimes that seems to be the unofficial motto of the 2024 elections. Voters are fed up with politics as usual and are therefore focusing on the real and authentic.
Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance grew up in a working-class family with a mother who struggled with addiction, but he has trouble connecting with voters. This could be one of the reasons for his low popularity. Vance’s Democratic candidate, Tim Walz, on the other hand, is a former football coach and fellow Midwesterner who has a knack for turning campaign speeches into motivational rallies. Walz’s popularity ratings are higher than those of his opponent.
Harris’ problem? It’s impossible to connect with voters if you don’t tell your story in great detail as often as possible. That’s exactly what Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama did. They all used their campaigns to talk about everything from Bush’s drinking problems to Obama’s abandonment by his father.
There’s no doubt that Harris has had an incredible personal journey, much of it in the fast lane. In 2004, Harris was sworn in as San Francisco’s district attorney. Now, just two decades later, she’s the Democratic nominee for U.S. president. That’s a long way to go in a relatively short amount of time.
The Democratic National Convention speech was Harris’s chance to introduce herself to the nation. First of all, it’s odd that someone who has been in the public eye for 20 years should have to explain who she is and what she stands for when running for president. But that’s the situation, and it shows the challenge Harris faces. She began by talking about her childhood and thanking her father for helping her become “fearless.”
The speech served its purpose. The American people needed to know what kind of leader the Democratic candidate wants to be:
“I promise to be a president for all Americans,” she said. “You can always count on me to put country before my party and myself. I will uphold America’s sacred principles, from the rule of law to free and fair elections to the peaceful transfer of power.”
And how she sees our country:
“I see an America where we hold on to the fearless faith that our nation was built on,” she said. “That has inspired the world. That here in this country, anything is possible. Nothing is unattainable.”
And how she sees her fellow Americans:
“We are the heirs of the greatest democracy in world history,” she said. “And on behalf of our children and grandchildren and all those who have made such great sacrifices for our freedom, we must be worthy of this moment.”
These are great words. But they don’t help us solve the mystery surrounding Kamala Harris.
During her tenure as district attorney in San Francisco, for example, Harris wanted to be a “progressive prosecutor” but ended up as a hard-line conservative who threatened inner-city parents with jail if their children skipped school. She has since said she regrets the consequences of some of her actions. But that’s easy for politicians to say.
At the end of her speech, Harris asked her fellow Americans to help her write “the next great chapter of the most extraordinary story of all time” – the history of the United States of America.
One thing at a time, Madam Vice President. First, let’s learn more about your personal story. Here are some things that interest me:
How has her life been shaped by her gender or race? In particular, as a biracial candidate, how have her dual backgrounds—black and Indian—influenced her views and politics? Has her identity as a stepmother made her a stronger advocate for family rights? As the daughter of two immigrants, does she feel more or less sympathy for immigrants and refugees than other Americans? Given that her parents had doctorates, does she recognize her own privilege? And how would she use the power of the presidency to create a society in which more people who look like her or have foreign roots can achieve their own version of the American dream?
I have many more questions, and I’m sure the American people do too. Harris needs to provide answers so voters can connect with her. That’s how you win elections.
Ruben Navarrette’s email address is [email protected]. His podcast, Ruben in the Center, is available on any podcast app.
