Donald’s Slump

Donald, you’re in a slump

Your polling has taken a dump

Since Kamala entered the race.

She has upped its pace!

While it’s frustratingly true

Momala hasn’t done an interview

Thanks to your campaign

Favorability she has attained.

If you want her to step out

For a face to face bout

Don’t shoot your own foot

Don’t spew out hot soot.

Now, you’re her best ally.

The Democrat’s guy?

Vice President Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee for president over three weeks ago and she has yet to do a formal interview.

Harris is a relatively unknown quantity and voters don’t have much time to get to know her and her policy positions. While her lack of availability is frustrating for both the general voter and the Trump campaign, it makes a lot of sense. Trump is imploding on himself in an attempt to dominate the headlines again. Why step in his way? As of today, RealClearPolitics gives her a 51.3% of winning, which has risen steadily since Biden dropped out.

Harris did give a speech about economic policy in North Carolina on Friday and then released a video with VP nominee Tim Walz on Saturday. Predictably, her ideas pleased Democrats and irritated Republicans.

In the final sprint to Election Day, Harris has to consistently have formal events like her speech and more casual stuff like she did with Walz. As much as policy wonks want to focus on policy, likability and relatability are key for elections, including the presidency.

While Harris and Walz’s musical preferences may not have much effect on their policies, knowing about them makes the candidates seem nice and down to earth.

In contrast, Trump and Vance are spending a lot of time on personal attacks, which makes them seem angry and aggressive.

For instance, take the issue of protecting children. On Trump’s website, he posted how he will “protect children from Left-Wing Gender Insanity” and “revoke Joe Biden’s cruel polices on gender affirming care.”

In their joint video, Harris and Walz talked about protecting children without insulting the other side. They came across as being for something, rather than against something else.

To be fair, Harris appeared to call Trump a coward at a campaign stop today. Still, she didn’t reference him by name. That little change makes her presentation more uplifting and affirming. I grant politicians a little grace when speaking off the cuff at a rally or campaign stop. A lot of the audience is devout and passionate. Therefore, politicians give them a little more intense rhetoric.

Other media like interviews, videos and websites are for the general public and insults should be avoided there. Trump doesn’t change his approach whether doing something in-person or via the media.

The election is still a jump ball. But there’s no question Trump’s missteps are Harris’s best ally right now.

Trump’s unconventional style propelled him to the White House once. Will it keep him from returning?