Big issues that cost Kamala Harris the US election

Kamala Harris missed a big opportunity to become the US president with these key factors ultimately proving costly. See why.

Joe Biden’s refusal to drop out of the presidential race sooner, his failure to bring inflation under control and his recent “garbage” gaffe are all likely to be counted as significant factors when the Democrats assess the problems with their re-election campaign.

America’s oldest-ever President – he turns 82 in a fortnight – was widely panned for delaying his decision to drop out of the presidential race in July.

After months of discussion about his apparent cognitive decline, it took a disastrous performance in the first debate against Donald Trump, and a persuasive opinion piece from George Clooney, to convince Mr Biden to stand aside in favour of his deputy Kamala Harris.

That eleventh-hour decision left Ms Harris with just 100 days to campaign for the presidency.

While Mr Biden’s administration boasted many achievements, including a record run of low unemployment, the escalating cost of living was mentioned as a top-order issue for voters in exit polls across America on election day.

US President Joe Biden steps off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on November 4. Picture: AFP

Mr Biden kept a relatively low profile during the campaign, even voting early in Delaware on October 28.

But he was slammed for making yet another gaffe late in the campaign, appearing to describe Donald Trump’s supporters as “garbage” just a week ago.

His wife Jill Biden’s decision to wear “Republican red” while voting on election day raised eyebrows, with social media users suggesting she was sending a signal about the way the Democrats had treated her husband.

ISSUES THAT COST KAMALA HARRIS THE PRESIDENCY

Surprise candidate

The Vice President had 97 days between President Joe Biden dropping out of the race and Americans going to the polls. While that is an eternity compared to Australian election campaigns, it is an incredibly limited window in the context of the two-year US election cycle.

Raising money, choosing a running mate, preparing for debates – these things take time, and while Ms Harris did them effectively, that legwork took her off the trail in crucial periods. She also waited too long to sit for interviews and appeared uncomfortable when she did.

Even in recent days, Ms Harris has still been having to explain her basic biography to voters who remained unsure of who she is and what she believes.

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris takes part in a phone bank at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC. Picture: AFP

Biden’s record

Two of the most important kitchen-table issues in this election have been painful inflation and the record influx of illegal immigrants. On both, Mr Trump had a significant upper hand, with the Biden administration bearing responsibility for its action and inaction on each front.

Ms Harris is obviously Mr Biden’s deputy, and regardless of the relative lack of power vested in the vice presidency, she has been unable to escape blame. This political problem was compounded by her unwillingness to break from the President, something she could have done in a nuanced way. Instead, she said she would have done nothing differently to him.

The change factor

Being dragged down by Mr Biden’s record made it difficult for Ms Harris to convince some voters that she was not the incumbent in this race. In many respects, she is right to say she represents a new generation of leadership, but she is still already the Vice President.

The mantle of the “change candidate” is crucial, particularly in an election coming after such a difficult period, not only in terms of the cost of living but with the outbreak of conflict overseas. Mr Trump more effectively positioned himself to offer that change, even if his case – “were you better off four years ago?” – relied on some collective Covid amnesia.