Former Vice President Kamala Harris failed to follow advice meant to help her win the 2024 election, a new book has revealed.
The book, “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America,” by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf, details the memos that were meant to provide some guidance to Harris’ waning campaign, per Politico’s Playbook.
The memos included ways to increase Harris’ chances of getting elected, such as seeking the independent vote as well as “soft” Republican votes.
“It doesn’t give reason to vote for Harris,” Maria Comella, a Republican political adviser, wrote in a memo to Harris’ campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon regarding Harris’ campaign strategy up to that point.
The key, Comella explained, was to distinguish herself from President Joe Biden. Harris should also acknowledge the failings of the Democratic Party. This includes “missing the mark” on urban crime, its policy regarding electric cars and not paying enough attention to border security.
Another piece of advice was to go on the Joe Rogan podcast.
The objective, according to Memo One, was to go on the offensive.
“Frame closing argument that VP Harris is going to change the tone in Washington and bring people together in the name of getting the job done while Trump’s chaos makes it impossible – change versus a return to chaos, the memo read.
Harris was also urged not to focus on the Jan. 6 riot when she gave a speech at the Ellipse.
Courting the Republican vote was essential, yet somewhat tricky.
“The current focus of rolling out and utilizing Republicans like Liz Cheney gives comfort that a soft Republican who dislikes (Donald) Trump is not alone, but it doesn’t give reason to vote for Harris,” per Memo Three. “They may not want to vote for Trump, but they aren’t ready yet to cast a vote for Harris.”
“Flip the concept. Instead of Republicans for Harris, how do we make it Harris for Republicans? This general framework is applicable to independents and moderate undecideds as well because it creates a structure that either makes it possible to vote for her or comfortable enough not to turn out to vote for Trump,” the memo continued.
“You have to not just say you are the change candidate, but show you are the change candidate.”
