*Fatshimetrie – The stakes of the presidential election: Kamala Harris faces an unprecedented challenge*
In a deeply divided America and torn by the political storm initiated by the Trump era, Kamala Harris finds herself at the heart of a historic presidential campaign. In this year 2024, marked by questions as diverse as exorbitant food prices and allegations of fascism against her opponent, Harris finds herself confronted with unprecedented challenges.
The contrast between these seemingly grotesque questions reveals the complex plot of this election and the growing distance separating Americans, nine years after Donald Trump came to power. Harris’ quest for answers to the question “What do Americans want?” is echoed during a town hall hosted by CNN in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, a crucial region where a massive mobilization is necessary to defeat the former president, just 12 days before the election.
Facing thirty-two undecided or impressionable voters, Harris is asked about the country’s polarizing political turmoil, skyrocketing grocery prices, and the migrant crisis that the Biden administration is struggling to resolve. The questions range from the deaths of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to rising anti-Semitism in the United States. She is asked about her recent energy policy reversals on fracking and her plans to tax the wealthy more. One voter discusses her weaknesses while another wonders about expanding the Supreme Court to 12 justices to rebalance the conservative majority.
Each question Harris asks is not just an exchange with one voter, but an opportunity to reach millions of like-minded citizens across the country.
The vice president’s comments about what Americans want echo recent questions about Trump’s ability to serve as president. Her former White House chief of staff, John Kelly, recently described him as a “fascist” who wants Hitler-style generals. Harris underscores the dangers of a second Trump term, seeing him as a threat to American democracy. She warns of authoritarian acts that use the Justice Department to prosecute his enemies and harbor vengeful motives.
With the election on the brink, Harris must seek to reach a diverse audience, from impressionable independents to disenchanted Republicans, young people and disengaged voters, while also rallying Latinos and African Americans tempted by Trump.
The central question is: what strategy should be adopted to reach these audiences? Warn against a potentially autocratic Trump presidency or emphasize more down-to-earth issues such as the cost of living? Each communication choice can influence the fate of the election.
Through this town hall, Harris is faced with a dilemma: how to convince undecided voters despite their persistent economic concerns? Should we bet on nostalgia for a pre-Trump economy or on the promise of firm management of the migration crisis carried by the Republican camp, while minimizing the potential risks linked to a second Trump term?
Some voices among voters agree that the personal conflicts between Harris and Trump are doing a disservice to the population. Beyond mutual attacks, the substance of their speech remains essential to reach voters in their daily lives.
In sum, in this crucial run-up to the presidential election, Kamala Harris finds herself at a crossroads, called upon to sublimate the multiple issues that define the current campaign. Her ability to articulate a clear vision, address the concerns of the American people, and differentiate herself positively from her opponent will be decisive for the outcome of this historic election.
In this battle for the ballot box, Kamala Harris has the opportunity to transcend political divides to embody resolute and visionary leadership, capable of responding to the deep aspirations of a nation in search of renewal.