GOP strategist Brad Todd criticized Vice President Kamala Harris’ Tuesday speech as “political malpractice,” arguing it was unwise to stage her in front of the White House amid President Joe Biden’s high disapproval ratings.
Harris delivered her closing argument speech at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., urging supporters to vote for her and warning that a Trump presidency would allegedly bring “more” chaos and division. On “Anderson Cooper 360,” Todd pointed out that a large portion of Americans blame Biden and Harris for the direction of the country, suggesting Harris should have spoken in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh instead.
“I hate to be the skunk at the garden party here, but I think, you know, I plan political events for a living, and I think this was political malpractice to put her in front of this White House. 68% of Americans think that the country‘s on the wrong track, and they blamed Joe Biden, and increasingly they‘re blaming Kamala Harris. By standing in front of the White House tonight, she‘s going to own all 68% of that disapproval,” Todd said.
“And I think it‘s a comfort reason. I think northwest Washington, D.C., is about her best precinct in America. Everybody likes her there,” Todd added. She should have been in the Union Lodge in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh tonight — that would have done her a lot more good.”
Todd continued to note how he didn’t believe voters who previously backed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the GOP primary would be swayed to vote for Harris, stating her speech was almost identical to the one she delivered at the Democratic National Convention in August.
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“I also don‘t think that she did a lot for Nikki Haley voters. They‘ve talked a lot this week about that they were going after Haley voters, and I think the Haley voters had to be looking at this as like a Christmas present they opened up was socks. They got nothing new from her, nothing that wasn‘t in her convention speech, frankly. I don’t think this moves the ball for her here at the end,” Todd concluded.
Since becoming the party’s nominee, Harris has reportedly tried to distance herself from Biden. She received backlash after telling ABC’s “The View” on Oct. 8 that “not a thing” came to mind when asked if she would change anything from the last four years.
Polls indicate that voters’ top concerns are the economy, inflation and immigration. CNN’s Harry Enten believes Harris could be impacted by voters’ disapproval of Biden’s handling of the economy. In CNN/SSRS’s latest poll, 64% disapproved of Biden’s performance as president, with only 36% approving.
