MSNBC Segment Speaks With Americans
Today, we’re delving into the current political climate and the evolving public perception of Vice President Kamala Harris. Based on a recent MSNBC focus group, it seems her honeymoon period with voters might be coming to an end. The focus group, which took place in Wisconsin and included female swing voters, provided some brutally honest feedback about Harris’s candidacy after she replaced President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Rather than celebrating Harris as a groundbreaking candidate, the women questioned her competence for the highest office. “I think she’s an idiot,” said one voter, Mary, in a blunt assessment that surely won’t make it into Harris’s campaign ads. Another voter criticized Harris for her handling of the border crisis, highlighting her controversial role as the “border czar.” “She doesn’t know what’s going on at the border, and that’s what she was supposed to be doing,” she added.
A schoolteacher in the group drew a comparison between Harris’s performance and job accountability. She expressed frustration that, unlike in her profession, Harris faced no job jeopardy despite perceived underperformance. “Not only was [Harris’s] job not in jeopardy, she was just handed a promotion,” the teacher remarked, according to the Daily Caller.
The focus group participants were also skeptical about Harris’s chances of winning them over with a desirable running mate. When asked if a strong vice-presidential pick could sway their votes, they collectively shook their heads. One woman stated she would vote for independent candidate RFK, Jr. over Harris, echoing the sentiment of the group.
The reporter pointed out that Harris isn’t the first woman to run on a major party ticket, mentioning Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. This led to nods from the panel, indicating none of them had supported Clinton either. When asked when the time for a female president might be right, one woman replied dryly, “When there’s a competent one.”
After Mary labeled Harris an “idiot,” she was asked to elaborate. “Because she hasn’t done anything in the time that she’s had,” Mary replied. “We don’t know anything about her as far as her three years so far in the White House. She’s not real smart.”
Republicans, especially those aligned with the Trump campaign, are exploring various lines of attack against Harris. U.S. House Republican leaders recently cautioned against referring to her as the “DEI” candidate, suggesting such comments could backfire due to their racial implications. Meanwhile, in an interview with Tucker Carlson, Trump opted for a different approach, describing Harris as “weird” and mocking her speaking style.
Concerns about Harris’s readiness for the presidency could be amplified by Republicans pointing out her past verbal missteps. Over the years, Harris has made headlines for some awkward remarks, including calling artificial intelligence a “fancy thing” and stumbling over repetitive phrases at press conferences.
A notable example was a speech she gave in February, where she described the journey of astronauts Bob and Doug with a simplicity that many found cringeworthy. “Which brings me to May 30, 2020. Bob and Doug returned to the Kennedy Space Center. They suited up. They waved to their families, and they rode an elevator up nearly 20 stories. They strapped into their seats and waited as the tanks beneath them filled with tens of thousands of gallons of fuel. And then, they launched. Yeah, they did.”