This is the next of our series of missives on our unfinished work to restore the promise of our country and its government. Each will focus on a single element of the many opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Each will provide three steps we can all take to build upon our huge victories winning back the House in 2018 and the Presidency in 2020.
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It isn’t just being suddenly ahead when more than six weeks ago we were behind. That itself was worth our collective exhilaration when Joe Biden resigned, Kamala Harris got traction, and Donald Trump was surprised, surprisingly.
Instead, this glee has been built on the idea that we can keep this momentum all the way until November 6. We suspect that there something different about this election cycle that makes Kamala Harris’ lead more sustainable and expandable than Hilary Clinton’s even bigger lead in 2016. This is the case for that proposition:
- In 2016, Trump forces were just starting to Benghazi Clinton, as they had Swift Boated John Kerry. The worst of emails, Anthony Weiner and Jim Comey’s declarations were yet to come. It may be that as a former prosecutor, Kamala Harris has considerably less vulnerability than did Clinton.
- Even though she is Vice President, Kamala Harrison is being received as the candidate of change. There was a huge response to her simply being younger; a woman; and capable of a smile or laugh. It is difficult to believe that Donald Trump was once seen as a political novelty, but no more. Day after day, he owns being a grumpy old man, dare we say “nasty”? Better yet, the Democratic strategy at the convention has been not to describe him looming, but to make him small, the man running his leaf blower.
- Donald Trump’s means of delighting his base by repeating lies and insulting Kamala is not being well received by independents. It has decreased the number of undecided voters and thus has made it harder for him to regain the lead.
- Trump and Vance continue to test racist and misogynistic approaches to defining Kamala Harris. A Putin lover calling her Comrade Kamala? Through the convention speeches and huge swing state advertising buys she has established her own life narrative.
- If Kamala Harris had started campaigning in 2023, by now she would be frayed by the efforts of her Democratic opponents. Instead, she is fresh and energetic, and only needs to this momentum for two months. This is Joe Biden’s inadvertent gift.
- In a meaningful way, reproductive freedom is on the ballot in all 50 states. Especially important in drawing young voters in swing states are the statewide initiatives in Arizona, Nevada, Florida and (to boost Senator Jon Tester) Montana.
- As successful as Trump and the Supreme Court have been in delaying or preventing Trump’s legal reckoning, Juan Merchan is standing in the way. He is scheduled to sentence the felon on September 18 in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.
- Democratic Senate candidates are bolstering Kamala's candidacy by leading their opponents in the swing states if Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Now for the feeling being felt now to be the way we all feel on Wednesday morning, November 6. This is not guaranteed. Perhaps we have all decided the ways in which we can be engaged. This missive has outlined thirteen ways to jump in deeper and stay in longer. The gains thus far among independents are startling. Accordingly, worthy of new attention is the heretofore inadequate but potentially consequential effort by some Republicans to get other Republicans to vote for Kamala Harris. We could support one or more of these three organizations:
| 1) Hayley Voters for Harris | |
| Haley Voters for Harris believed Nikki Haley when she said she would not kiss Trump’s ring. They were compelled by her detailed description of why he would be “a disaster for the party”. All they are doing now in the face of Haley’s protests is acting on her very clearly articulated beliefs. She should be proud of them! They are working hard to capture for Kamala Harris the votes cast for Nikki Haley in the primaries. Haley Voters for Harris. | |
2) Republicans for Voting Rights | |
| Veteran Republican organizer Sarah Longwell has developed several projects under the flag of the Republican Accountability Project. Even though its goals are longer term, the favorite should be Republicans for Voting Rights. They are a clear voice in fighting their own party’s voter suppression. | |
3) Republican Voters Against Trump | |
| Out there also is the more established Republican Voters Against Trump. Their budget is modest, but their use of their dollars is exquisite. They are placing ads in swing states featuring Republican voters outlining their antipathy toward Trump, featuring his January 6, 2021 insurrection. Their ad budget can be increased to seize this unique market niche. | |
As Michelle Obama urged, we have all decided to “Do Something”, reveling in the hugeness of the opportunity that has emerged in the last month. Over the next 60 days everything depends on the extent of our commitment.
David Harrison
Bainbridge Island, Washington
