Drown Donald Trump in Substance
Policy matters.
The 81-year-old incumbent decided to pass the torch and people have a right to feel more hopeful now than they did a month ago. But while the Democratic base is delighted by the presumptive nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris, the data suggests sobriety might be in order:
I’ve noticed that a lot of the excitement about Harris’ nomination seems to be focused on her (relative) youth, diverse family background, and, well, memes — in other words, Kamala’s identity, gender, and cultural cachet rather than specific policy proposals. Given Joe Biden’s unpopularity was driven in large part by extreme voter frustration over the cost-of-living crisis and immigration, and not just his cognitive decline, it’s important that the Harris campaign leans into policy in a way that Biden never did. (Hillary didn’t either!) This is especially true, because the vice president has had confusing positions on so many issues in the past — from policing to health care.
Since early voting starts in about two months, this pivot to policy needs to start now. Harris has been vice president for four years — the public is already familiar with her identity and personal story — but Americans know very little about her policy preferences, because Biden has generally sidelined her and the only major issue she was tasked with addressing, immigration, is a negative for Democrats.
A policy pivot has two major benefits:
First, Americans are angry about Biden’s record and want answers on the cost-of-living crisis, immigration, abortion, and instability abroad. If Harris doesn’t provide appealing answers, some will simply turn to Donald Trump’s demagoguery and populism.
Second, Trump is a talented entertainer and comedian, but not an intelligent speaker or “wonk.” Harris pivoting to policy means she can drown Trump in substance. During a debate, if Harris demonstrates command of complex policy details — say, managed-competition health care — and asks Trump to respond, he’ll struggle. She can do that multiple times and probably always come out ahead.
By the end of next week, I’d like to see a detailed policy platform on Kamala’s website with specific ideas to address the cost-of-living crisis, housing, health care, abortion, and both the Gaza and Ukraine wars. European politicians and political parties with significantly fewer resources than the Harris campaign can quickly produce governing agendas, so no excuses about providing details on a tight timeframe.
“Make health care affordable” and “cheaper housing” are not enough — details, details, details! A single-payer health care system or a managed-competition system? For housing, what specific zoning laws need to change to increase the supply of homes for sale and how can rent stabilization laws be expanded to all 50 states? A law to “restore reproductive freedoms”? How will the law be passed and, if it can’t, what creative policy interventions does Harris support to protect women in states with abortion restrictions?
This focus on substance will inspire confidence in Kamala and prove disorienting for a Trump campaign more worried about distancing itself from the extreme Project 2025 proposal than putting forth its own appealing platform. Harris has an uphill climb to maybe squeak out a narrow Electoral College victory, and the path to success will be paved with policy.