Kamala Harris, once again, highlighted the challenges her campaign faces when she steps away from the script.
On Sunday, during an exchange with reporters on her way to New York, Harris delivered a tangled response when asked about her economic vision. Promising to outline her “vision for the economy” this week, she offered an awkwardly phrased explanation that left many scratching their heads.
Her pitch boiled down to “investing in the aspirations, ambitions, and dreams of the American people,” while vaguely touching on familiar pain points like high grocery prices and the difficulty of homeownership. But the irony is glaring: Harris played a direct role in worsening those very issues through her tie-breaking votes in the Senate, particularly on key economic policies that have contributed to inflation. She’s now stuck in a paradox, trying to solve problems she helped create. Inflation, driven by massive government spending, has made life harder for everyday Americans, and Harris’ role in that is undeniable.
Kamala says she’ll outline a “vision for the economy” this week “about what we can do more to invest in the aspirations, the ambitions, and the dreams of the American people while addressing the challenges that they face.”
The challenges are *because* of her failures in office. pic.twitter.com/QHB3qRVnsB
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 22, 2024
It’s no surprise that Harris has distanced herself from media questions throughout much of the campaign. She’s been famously elusive, running from the press in most cases, but for some reason, Sunday was different. Maybe she was feeling emboldened after her heavily managed appearances with media figures like Oprah Winfrey. However, even in these settings, she’s struggled to articulate a clear message that resonates with voters.
Harris’ comments about wanting another debate with the “former vice president” added to the confusion. Her apparent slip—seeming to refer to Donald Trump, who was the former *president*, as the former *vice president*—only deepened concerns about her preparedness. Was this just a harmless mistake, or a sign of deeper disorganization within her campaign? Whatever the case, it’s the kind of gaffe her team works hard to avoid by keeping her off-script moments to a minimum.
Kamala says she’d “like another debate” with the “former vice president.”
Does she think she’s running against Mike Pence? Dick Cheney? Dan Quayle? Has she covered up Biden’s cognitive decline for so long that it has now rubbed off on her? pic.twitter.com/ZfO2vujDZT
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 22, 2024
Even her desire for another debate raises questions. If Harris felt confident about her performance in the first debate, why push for another? It suggests her internal polling or advisers may not share her confidence. And despite her call for a new debate, she declined to participate in the Fox event Trump agreed to, creating a double standard that’s hard to ignore.
This is precisely why her team is hesitant to let her speak unscripted. Whether it’s flubbing key details or delivering vague, convoluted answers, Harris frequently stumbles when she goes off the teleprompter.
