She Nailed It

Kamala Harris did exactly what she needed to do. She introduced herself to the American people. She addressed the most important issues facing our country. She drew sharply the contrast with Donald Trump, a small and unserious man who is a serious danger to American freedoms. She displayed the force and command that qualifies her to be commander in chief. She showed a side of herself that Americans have mostly just not seen in the last four years.

She went out of her way to reach out not only to the choir, but to Republicans and undecided voters. As Bob Shrum pointed out in my podcast, No Holding Back, this morning, she did not mention the word Democrat a single time in her speech. She did not play to identity politics. She promised to be a president for all Americans.

Her speech -- roughly one-third the length of Donald Trump's diatribe at the Republican National Convention -- did what his was supposed to do, but didn't. He was supposed to give a speech about unity. That lasted about 15 minutes until he veered off script and went back to polarization politics.

It was a great convention. With the exception of going long on Monday night -- and pushing Joe Biden out of prime time -- it was flawlessly programmed. It was actually fun to watch. It was full of joy. No disrespect for Joe Biden, but it was an entirely different convention than the one that was slated to renominate Joe Biden. A much better one, animated by the movement for change, by the optimism about the future, by the size of the tent, big enough for everyone from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Adam Kinzinger.

The best Donald Trump could do in response, on Truth Social and on Fox News, was to fling his usual mud in response. "SAY GOODBYE TO THE U.S.A.! SHE IS A RADICAL MARXIST!" he posted. In real time, he repeated his lies about immigration and crime. "LYING AGAIN ABOUT PROJECT 2025, WHICH SHE KNOWS, AND SO DO ALL DEMOCRATS, THAT I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH!" In fact, it was drafted by numerous alumni and friends of the Trump administration as a playbook for the next Republican administration. He defended the overturning of Roe v. Wade, falsely claiming that "everybody," including Democrats, "wanted Roe v. Wade TERMINATED." No, they didn't; an overwhelming majority of Americans support Roe v. Wade. In response to her strong commitment to Israel's security, he posted "SHE HATES ISRAEL - Wouldn't even show up to Congress for Netanyahu's session!" In fact, she met with him privately. And on and on.

Throw all the mud you can and hope something sticks. Repeat the same lies over and over again in the hope that if people hear it enough times, they will believe it.

Will it work?

Kamala Harris has had the best month of any politician in modern political history. Her choice of Tim Walz has turned into an unexpected bonanza, while Trump's choice of J.D. Vance has to be seen as one of the worst choices of a vice presidential nominee in recent years.

And it's still a close race, at this point, too close to call.

That's because the politics of polarization -- of us against them -- works for Donald Trump. As Bob Shrum points out, he has a lock on 45% of the American people. And, effective as Harris and the Democratic Convention was, it is hard to see what anyone can do to loosen that lock. This morning, Trump received the endorsement of Robert Kennedy Jr., a pitiful stain on the Kennedy family legacy. Kamala Harris, rightly, wanted nothing to do with him. Trump, who has no scruples about who he makes common cause with, from white supremacists to antisemites, welcomed the support.

The debate will be critical. I know I'm supposed to lower expectations, but I think Harris will wipe the floor with him. If their respective acceptance speeches are any guide to what will happen when they are on the stage together, she will stay on message and he will rant and rave. It may not shake loose his supporters, but so far, he has come up with no argument to move those voters who are not already with him. And they will decide this election. That, and getting the vote out, which the enthusiasm and momentum coming out of the convention should facilitate on the Democratic side.

========

To find out more about Susan Estrich and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.