Vice President Kamala Harris has done little with her time in office to earn a repeat in 2024. But her poor image – awash with inappropriate guffaws, lack of geographical knowledge, and little desire to be briefed so as not to sound foolish – is about to change dramatically. The most prestigious Democratic and progressive women’s organization, EMILY’s List, has decided to take Harris under its massive wing and fix her up just right before 2024 gets into serious swing mode. And it’s going to cost only about $10 million or so.
Will that amount be enough to convince America and President Joe Biden that Harris is indeed the best running mate? It would sure be a blow to progressive Democratic Party women to have Harris replaced on the ticket.
EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler warned The Hill: “We’re going to tell the story about who she is, what she’s done, support her at every turn, and really push back against the massive misinformation and disinformation that’s been directed towards her since she’s been elected.”
Does America really want a reminder of the last two years?
The $10 Million Harris Makeover
Harris is attractive. She is accomplished. But is she a ball of earthenware clay to slam onto a potter’s wheel and create the woman who could be president one day? Apparently the women of EMILY’s List want to give Harris a stint in progressive candidate boot camp. Strategically and thoughtfully, they will commence remaking the image of someone who has bumbled her public persona in a prominent and spectacular way. The group is already in charge of Madam Vice President Harris’ Twitter account to better craft and maintain the perfect VP narrative.
For those who follow the public stances, responsibilities, and offerings of the first woman vice president, there is a new Harris in the public domain. Handlers have ditched the tightly scripted candidate. Measures have been put in place to cure her foot-in-mouth disease, painfully evident when she blabbered her way through Sunday-morning political talk shows and stump speeches. One might recall this foreign policy gem when she was asked to explain the Russian invasion of Ukraine:
“So, Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia. Russia is a bigger country. Russia is a powerful country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine. So, basically, that’s wrong, and it goes against everything that we stand for.”
But now Harris has been encouraged to act and appear more likable. She roams the stage and ad-libs, even though doing so dangerously sets her up for another oopsie moment. But she’s friendlier. After so many embarrassing moments, the Biden administration’s goal became to limit Harris’ exposure on complex issues. With the help of DC public relations maven Kiki McLean – who polished up Bill Clinton for a second term – Harris soon stuck to abortion and voting rights.
Her poll numbers slightly improved. Simultaneously, she disappeared from public sightings. But even Kiki seems to have taken a step away.
Harris is not an easy boss, and, unfortunately, aggrieved staffers like to tattle. Over her tenure, it seems her entire staff has swapped jobs or quit, citing impossible work conditions. As Liberty Nation has reported time and again:
“The pressure of any job with a boss rumored to be heavy-handed, unprepared, or who practices point and blame might drive the faint-of-heart researcher or IT person out into the mean streets for comfort. Some folks just can’t handle it. But when the hardened top-ops leave, that speaks volumes.”
EMILY’s List must show America what the vice president has accomplished and somehow rebuild the reputation of a woman often ill-prepared and somewhat indifferent to the advice of counsel. Is $10 million from the PAC enough to manufacture a long enough list of Harris’ achievements?
The Power of EMILY’s List
The webpage of this prestigious PAC describes what it does in a nutshell: “EMILY’s List changes the world by electing Democratic pro-choice women. We’ve been doing it since 1985. And we’re good at it.” No one can dispute that claim. It has raised and distributed more than $850 million to women candidates for the judicial system, local races, and those running nationally. It doesn’t just dole out money; it educates and trains candidates on issues and style with its vast and diverse membership base that includes officeholders, “industry experts, and volunteers.”
EMILY’s List boasts 1,700 victories under its designer belt and more than five million members. If any group could elevate Harris’ image and status and drive progressive votes, it is number one on speed dial.
For some reason, the EMILY’s ladies want Kamala, even though other potential candidates are ready to step in as ticket rider for 2024: perhaps Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, to name two.
Whatever the PAC does for Kamala, the struggling White House needs to get its act together. Harris cannot win as the ticket leader; the only way to slide her into the Oval Office is on Biden’s coattails and remake the VP job in American minds. As 2024 looms – with an angry, disillusioned electorate gathering pitchforks and pikes – it is unclear where the role of a running mate will land. Harris – or anyone else?
