Lucas: Kamala’s book tour trumps 2024 race
In a recent analysis, the author reflects on the contrasting political trajectory of Vice President Kamala Harris, particularly in light of her recent book promotion. The piece suggests that had Harris campaigned for the presidency with the same vigor and openness she exhibits while promoting her book “107 Days,” her political fate might have been different. The author points out that Harris had substantial campaign resources—around $1.5 billion—but failed to leverage them effectively, choosing instead to avoid the media during her campaign. This avoidance is highlighted as a critical misstep, especially when compared to her current media engagement, where she is now actively participating in interviews to promote her book.
The article also delves into the hypothetical implications of a Harris presidency, painting a picture of a government that might have been significantly different from the current administration. It speculates on her potential cabinet picks, such as John Kerry as climate czar and Elizabeth Warren as Secretary of State, and raises concerns about her ability to handle international crises, particularly with adversaries like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. The author contrasts this with the current administration’s approach to foreign policy and national security, suggesting that Harris’s presidency could have led to an “open border” and ineffective responses to global threats. The narrative extends to the broader Democratic landscape, suggesting that Harris would face formidable competition from a new generation of radical leftists in any future presidential bid, complicating her ambitions for the 2028 nomination.
Ultimately, the article serves as a commentary on Harris’s political future and her recent strategy shift, emphasizing that while she may be attempting to maintain relevance through her book tour, the challenges ahead—both from within her party and in the broader political arena—are significant. The author concludes that the Democratic Party’s dynamics have evolved, and Harris will need to adapt to a more competitive environment if she hopes to reclaim a prominent role in national politics.
If Kamala Harris campaigned for president the way she is storming the country selling her book, she might have become president.
Had she been more open with the media the way she is now — instead of hiding out from the press throughout the campaign — she might have prevailed.
The vice president had some $1.5 billion in campaign funds to burn through. And burn through those funds, she did,
So, things maybe could have been different,
Not really. She was going to lose anyway.
But it is something to think about.
It is hard to imagine a President Harris dealing with dictators like Communist China’s Xi Jinping, war criminal Vladimir Putin of Russia or defiant Chuck Schumer of New York.
It is doubtful that she would have sent the B-2 bombers to wipe out the nuclear facilities in Iran or done much to free the Israelis held hostage by the Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
With Harris in the White House, John Kerry would have been back as climate czar, Maura Healey would be U.S. attorney general, and Elizabeth Warren would be Secretary of State.
The border would be open with Gavin Newsom in charge, people being deported would be Republicans, and Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro would be bombing U.S vessels and not the other way around.
Under President Donald Trump, however, Maduro, if he is lucky, will soon be back driving a bus or die in prison, like fellow drug kingpin Manuel Noriega of Panama after the U.S. invaded and arrested him.
And the East Wing of the White House that Trump is turning into a ballroom?
Forget about it. President Harris would have turned it into a Washington food pantry.
If you think not, consider her quote about the ballroom last week. She said, “Are you f—–g kidding me? The guy wants to create a ballroom for his rich friends while turning a blind eye to the fact that babies are going to starve when the SNAP benefits end hours from now. Come on.”
Nobody is going to starve in the U.S., and everybody knows it.
And can you imagine President Harris ending wars around the globe the way Trump has done?
Trump has settled so many wars between countries that he has lost count. He has even brought peace to countries that did not even know they were at war.
So, with the defeat of Harris, the country dodged a bullet.
Still, Harris is hanging in there hoping that lightning will strike twice and that she will once again be the Democrat Party nominee for president in 2028. Fat chance.
The difference now is that this time she will have to fight for the Democrat nomination instead of being crowned by the party as she was in 2024 after Joe Biden melted down.
Harris, however, will now face a wave of new, ambitious, young radical leftists like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) or Zohran Mamdani (ZM) for instance, who have taken over the leadership of the Democrat Party
Meanwhile, Harris still has old Joe Biden hanging around her neck like an ex-husband who won’t leave the house.
Still, Harris is trying, and says she is not finished with politics, which is interpreted as that she will run again, or at least try.
And she has remained in the spotlight not by campaigning for any candidate the way Barack Obama did, but by peddling her book.
While stiffing the media in 2024 — and paying the price for it — Harris has now done interviews with more reporters promoting her book “107 Days” than she did during the entire 107 days of her presidential campaign.
And she’s only been on her book-selling tour for 40 days.
She apparently thought that the $1.5 billion she spent on her campaign would do the trick. It did not
Harris spent the entire 107 days of her 2024 presidential campaign without holding a single official press conference, which must be something of a record.
Now she loves the media, and reporters have to beat her off with a stick.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas can be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
Former US Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy speaks to former President Joe Biden during the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute For The United States Senate in October. (CJ Gunther/Boston Herald)
