Staff Reports
Democrats, already sweating bullets over voter enthusiasm for the upcoming November election, are now at a crossroads. With President Joe Biden deciding to step aside, there’s a high probability that Vice President Kamala Harris will take the helm as the Democrat nominee, despite her failure to win a single primary. This shift has Democrats dusting off their party hats in a haze of misplaced optimism, but will it really stir the hearts of voters? The speculation is ripe for the picking.
Harry Enten from CNN recently attempted to spin this narrative of renewed hope with statistics suggesting a spike in voter enthusiasm following Biden’s exit. According to his analysis, prior to Biden’s departure, the prospect of low turnout was looming like a storm cloud. Post-debate numbers depicted a worrying trend: potential voters were looking less enthusiastic than summer 2020. At least those figures don’t lie – and they certainly aren’t painting a rosy picture for Democrats.
Will We Really See a Record Turnout Election for 2024? https://t.co/fdGhNbWYzL
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The celebratory tone among Democrats hinges on an expected “honeymoon period” for Harris, where new announcements might temporarily lift spirits and polling numbers. Historically, new candidates can experience a bounce, providing Harris sheds the baby name they’ve given Biden for the past four years. But is that enthusiasm sustainable? It’s as if they believe voters will clap and cheer for a face swap instead of digging into policy records that showcase her far-left agenda. The record is clear; warmth and fervor can evaporate as quickly as it appears.
Trump’s nomination in the Republican camp has already shown impressive engagement, which juxtaposes Harris’s so-called “enthusiasm bump” against the backdrop of solid support for a candidate who can deliver results. Even with Harris taking center stage, a shift in the general election race still hinges on voters’ experiences, not merely the plastic smiles posed to cameras. Voter sincerity is a continual question, one that remains unanswered despite Democrats prancing about feeling optimistic. The reality is that folks who voted for Trump last time have not suddenly become enamored with Harris’s veneer.
Moving down to the youth vote, they were never particularly thrilled about Biden, and a recent Quinnipiac University poll demonstrated that Trump is significantly leading Harris among younger voters by a margin that should make Democrats squirm. Yet, they cling to mixed polls that suggest otherwise. It seems that enthusiasm could be paradoxical; while some young voters express support for Harris, it’s an uphill battle to keep them engaged. Historical voting patterns show this demographic could just as easily turn their back when it counts.
Finally, as the dust settles post-RNC, there’s cautious optimism from the left, but real enthusiasm for Harris’s campaign is going to require more than just a name change in leadership. As the general election approaches, voters will need to dissect the issues rather than bounce between cheerleaders and spectators. Resting on the hope of a record turnout when it comes to a matchup of Trump and Harris may render more than a few Democrats feeling as queasy as a carnival ride after indulging in one too many funnel cakes.
