The Harris Mystique ~ Matthew Continetti

[corbe]

The Harris Mystique

Column: How Kamala Harris weaponized vagueness

Matthew Continetti
September 6, 2024

What's Kamala Harris's secret? In mid-June, she was a political liability for Joe Biden. Now, she's running neck-and-neck with Donald Trump. In July, Harris was less popular than either Biden or Trump. Now, she's more popular than both of them. In July, Harris was an awkward but loyal soldier in a doddering administration. Now, we're told that she's a cultural phenomenon. The next Obama. She's "brat"—whatever that means.

Harris's new status isn't due to her policy proposals. She hardly has any. Her public speeches are fine, but she's no Cicero. Oratory isn't her strength. Nor has she become more popular because she's often in the public eye. On the contrary: Harris has limited her campaign appearances. She hasn't had an official press conference or a solo interview since Biden dropped out. There's something guarded about Harris, a part of herself that she's reluctant or unwilling to reveal. Many voters like her anyway.

Harris has benefited from adulatory media, for sure. According to the Media Research Center, she received 84 percent positive coverage in her first month as a candidate, a far cry from Trump's 89 percent negative coverage during the same period. She faced few tough questions, and even fewer follow-ups, during her joint interview with running mate Tim Walz on CNN last week. The Trump campaign has found it difficult to cut through the thicket of stories that celebrate Harris's joy and vibes, her passion for cooking, and her adoring fans.

Worshipful press coverage doesn't fully explain the reversal of Harris's fortunes. A politician's favorability usually trends in one direction: downward. There are times when events cause an elected official's or a candidate's popularity to spike, such as the public rallying behind President George W. Bush after 9/11 or John Kerry riding pro-veteran sentiment to win the 2004 Democratic primary. But the sweet feelings eventually turn sour.

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https://freebeacon.com/columns/the-harris-mystique/

[Smokin Joe]

She lies like a rug.
Walz lies like a rug.

The media are doing their best to perpetuate that 'homey' mythos, to the point of inventing more of it softballing questions and not bringing up the raadical past of either.

Not to mention inventing bad things to say about their opponents, from AP down by taking statements out of context or simply... lying.