When U.S. President Joe Biden relinquished himself from the November 2024 Presidential election, the atmosphere of American Democratic politics shifted. Biden passed the spotlight onto Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris ran against Biden in the previous election, being seen as a progressive candidate and a critic of Biden. Yet, this time around, things seem different. As the fall election lingered in the late summer, Harris chose Tim Walz as her Vice-Presidential nominee and set off to the races. As the campaign nears its end, the momentum that saw Harris and her campaign shoot up within the polls has tapered off as margins now are nail-biting, especially in vital swing states. The time is ticking for the candidates to consolidate their chances of winning. However, polls are not everything in terms of predicting the election. I sat down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, David B. Shribman, with Argosy News Reporter Daniel Hennigar to discuss the means in which the race has played out since the summer.
As Shribman came to Mt. A to discuss the U.S election, I wanted to reflect on what I perceive as the detriment of the Harris campaign. Harris represented a fresh start for the democratic campaign, championing a voice for a new, younger, generation. However, this messaging has shifted dramatically since the summer. On September 10, Harris and Trump engaged in their first and probably only debate on ABC. Harris demonstrated an acute ability to shine against the bizarre claims and general disregard for civil debate emanating from her opponent. However, this is not the same Harris from 2020. Trump even said it himself — Harris is leaning into right-wing framing. Harris has seen criticism over changing her platform, in certain regards, drastically since her 2020 campaign. If the Harris campaign wanted to commit to their initial promise of new horizons, in order to back up her strength in verbal wit, Harris needs to promise herself to all delegates of the Democratic party. Which, under the development of the Harris campaign has led some to feel betrayed and ignored by the institution they have dedicated their lives to.
The state of Michigan has the highest concentration of Arab American voters. Michigan, most importantly, is a swing state with large implications for the success of either party in the electoral college. These two factors combine to become a vital demographic for campaigns to appease. I asked Shribman about the implications of the conflict within the Levant, which has grown exponentially under the Biden-Harris administration since 2023. Many delegates, especially those who are Arab American, Jewish, or of Levantine descent, found themselves polarised by the perceived incompetence of the Biden-Harris administration to sufficiently address and end this conflict. Shribman and I discussed the implications of the disillusionment felt by these voters in the grander scheme of the election. Shribman stated that “it doesn’t have to have a large impact on the whole election, as long as it has a large impact on Michigan.” In addition, Shribman acknowledged the precarious situation Harris is in when it comes to messaging surrounding the conflict: “[Harris is] taking a gamble, she’s making a bet [that] she has to make. She doesn’t have any other card to play. She could divert from the Biden [administration] the way Hubert Humphrey diverted from Johnson in October 1968 […] But, I think she’s trapped.” In addition, Shribman remarked that, “[Harris has] basically […] taken a line from the prayer book here, which is to say: ‘I deplore what happened on October 7 and I deplore […] what happened after [to the] civilians in Gaza’. You know, it’s an uncomfortable position to have.” Many voters who voted uncommitted have asked why the U.S. is so adamant on supporting Israel and its government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, who has consistently gone against the wishes and demands made by the U.S. in terms of their conquest in Gaza. This issue has been prominent since October 7, with tensions only escalating. Moreover, the conflict has now reached a new section of the American public.
The key to understanding the Gen-Z vote has been clear as day. Previous messaging in election cycles that appeals to Gen-X and older has now become generally stale, and many associate these forms of coverage with scepticism about the respective media company they choose to rely on. Both campaigns have turned to social media to promote their message. I spoke with Shribman about this form of outreach, which, in what he calls a “turnout election,” is vital. Shribman noted that “using innovative campaign techniques often works.” Continuing, Shribman spoke about the potential benefits of using social media: “[social media is] an innovative way of reaching a segment of the electorate that sometimes doesn’t vote. And it has the advantage that when you appear on one of these podcasts or something, the mainstream press reports about it. So, you get your message out […] Because you get your message on to the audience you’re talking to. Plus, the mainstream people who are writing about what you’re doing.” The importance of the media, both local and corporate, has only been emphasised in this election cycle. Being able to conquer multiple worlds of media may just prove to be a needle-mover in the last few days. Yet, Shribman expressed doubt on the power to potentially move the needle in the south, in states such as Florida and Texas. Shribman noted that this has been an area of analysis for decades, “everybody says: ‘you know, oh, eventually, Texas next time is gonna be democratic’. Well, I’ve heard that for like three or four election cycles and it never happens.” Conversely, Shribman suggested that both campaigns should instead focus on “enthusiasm building in the areas of strength.” This enthusiasm has been a thematic string following Harris since her nomination.
As the days trickle by, the sums of the efforts made by Harris and Trump have become increasingly evident. However, their pursuits, upon discussion with Shribman, have been repeated before. With an increased emphasis on social media and the new generation of voters, political campaigns have the opportunity to grow and promise a new, ambitious future for the electorate. Hence, if the Harris campaign wonders why their margins have continued to diminish, they should reflect back to the progressive optimism that originally caused Harris-Walz to shine in the spotlight.
