Democrats begin finger-pointing after Harris loss to Trump
President-elect Trump’s historic victory over Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday has left surrogates of the Democratic candidate scrambling to explain the defeat – even before Harris officially concedes.
Harris-Walz surrogate Lyndi Li spoke to Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich at Howard University, Harris’ alma mater, in Washington, D.C., expressing surprise at the unexpected blowout. Li, a member of the DNC National Finance Committee and Pennsylvania commissioner, pointed to Governor Tim Walz as a possible factor in Harris’ loss to the Trump-Vance ticket.
Li suggested that the choice of Walz as vice presidential candidate may not have been the right one to secure the crucial “blue wall” states. She mentioned that many people believed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro would have been a better fit, as he is known for his moderate views and would have presented Harris as a more centrist candidate.
The blame game continued as Li criticized Walz for his handling of the protests in Minnesota, stating that his missteps had damaged the campaign’s image. She also highlighted a moment during the Vice Presidential Debate where Walz had to correct a statement about his presence during the Tiananmen Square protests, calling it a basic political error.
Li also mentioned Harris’ attempt to position herself as a unifier, which may have alienated some Biden supporters who were still upset over his treatment during the primaries. She noted that Harris missed an opportunity on “The View” to differentiate herself from the Biden administration and showcase her own policy goals.
Additionally, Li raised concerns about the Pennsylvania campaign team’s leadership and staffing decisions, suggesting that a lack of understanding of the state’s dynamics led to ineffective messaging. She mentioned that Harris made changes to the team late in the campaign, but it was possibly too little, too late.
Despite the defeat, Harris has yet to address the results of the election as of Wednesday morning. She is expected to speak later in the day to her supporters at Howard University. Jacqui Heinrich, the Senior White House correspondent for FOX News Channel, continues to cover the aftermath of the election and provide updates on the transition of power.
