Quick Hit:

In an op-ed, Fox News writer David Marcus argues that Kamala Harris’ momentum in the 2024 race has stalled, pointing to her lack of political chops and evasiveness during interviews as key factors.

Key Details:

• Harris' polling lead over Trump has remained stagnant, according to ABC/Ipsos data.

• Marcus describes Harris as lacking "political chops" and battle-tested experience, which he sees as crucial in a competitive race.

• Despite early momentum, Marcus claims Harris' recent public appearances and refusal to answer tough questions are damaging her campaign.

Diving Deeper:

In a recent op-ed, Fox News columnist David Marcus highlights Kamala Harris’ fading momentum in the 2024 presidential race, calling into question her political skills and ability to win over voters. Although an ABC/Ipsos poll shows Harris with a four-point lead over Donald Trump, Marcus notes that this figure has remained unchanged since August 13, signaling stalled momentum. "Harris' momentum isn’t just gone, it's been gone for a while," Marcus writes, pointing to the stagnation.

Marcus first sensed a shift in Harris' campaign while visiting San Francisco, where locals expressed doubts about what Harris stands for as a candidate. “Almost everyone I met... there were creeping questions as to what she stands for, what she would do as president,” Marcus observed.

One of Harris' greatest challenges, according to Marcus, is her inability to connect with voters on a policy level. He describes viral videos from the Democratic National Convention where delegates struggled to name a favorite Harris policy. This hesitation has been echoed by voters across various regions of the country, even among those who support her candidacy. “They aren’t sure what they are going to win,” Marcus notes, likening Harris’ campaign to a “political scratch-off ticket.”

Another key issue Marcus raises is Harris' refusal to engage with the media or participate in interviews, which he views as a misstep. “Every voter I talked to said she needed to start answering questions,” he writes, suggesting that Harris' approach is hurting her image. Even after appearing on CNN with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Marcus argues it was “too little, too late.”

The larger problem, Marcus claims, is Harris' lack of "political chops." “A candidate with political chops can do three interviews a day without breaking a sweat,” he explains, emphasizing that Harris' lack of experience in competitive primaries is now becoming evident.

As the campaign moves into the final stretch, Marcus argues that Harris and her running mate need a "Second Act." “Kamala describing how she makes collard greens and Tim eating pork chops on a stick at the state fair isn’t going to cut it,” he writes. With voters seeking real answers, Marcus concludes that the untested Democratic candidates are facing significant hurdles.

For Marcus, the fading momentum of Harris’ campaign highlights deeper concerns within the Democratic Party as the race remains highly competitive.

"Kamala Harris" by Gage Skidmore licensed under (CC BY-SA 2.0)