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- Transitioning from Biden to Harris doesn’t ensure the Democratic Party’s victory this November.
- “It’s undoubtedly Trump’s contest to manage,” states David Axelrod.
- Axelrod emphasizes caution for the Democrats during an interview featured on CNN.
Former Obama strategist David Axelrod cautions that Vice President Kamala Harris faces significant challenges if she intends to secure a win against former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
In a recent dialogue with CNN’s Jessica Dean, Axelrod expressed concern that Democratic supporters might be overly optimistic regarding Harris’s prospects as the presumptive nominee following the uncertainty surrounding Biden’s renomination.
“Currently, there exists an atmosphere of unfounded positivity among Democrats due to prior anxieties about what November might bring,” stated Axelrod.
The turning point came when Harris was declared the designated Democratic nominee after weeks of speculation regarding Biden’s capability amid concerns over his age and performance. In late June, following an unflattering debate against Trump, calls for Biden’s withdrawal intensified from party insiders and major contributors alike. Ultimately, he stepped aside on July 21 and endorsed Harris for leadership.
However, simply replacing Biden with Harris does not equate to assured defeat for Trump. As noted by Axelrod—who played an essential role in securing victories for Barack Obama—this election remains firmly within Trump’s grasp.
“People are feeling optimistic about chances now; it is distinctly Trump’s contest to lose,” remarked Axelrod during his conversation. He pointed out that polling data suggests Trump maintains leads across many pivotal states crucial for victory.
“It has become a competitive landscape; however, right now Trump holds significant advantages. The Democratic side must recognize this reality,” he advised.
The ongoing preparations by Team Trump have primarily focused on countering a ticket led by Biden up until the unexpected announcement of his withdrawal from contention.
A campaign advisor explained back in March that “Joe Biden lacks substantial advantages going into this,” while noting some inherent strengths among Democrats themselves as well.”
This sudden shift certainly took them off guard; JD Vance—the senator from Ohio who serves as Trump’s running mate—admitted last month that transitioning focus toward Kamala felt unexpectedly jarring: akin to “a political sucker punch.”
Citing their underestimation of her capacity compared with any perceived liabilities tied to Joe Biden’s tenure Vance commented: “The downside here is that Kamala does not come with Joe’s historical baggage — she’s notably younger and appears more robust compared to what we’ve seen previously.”
Representatives from both campaigns have yet been unable or willing to provide comment outside standard business hours regarding these unfolding events.
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