Why the media waited till now to admit Harris ran a lousy campaign

The aftermath of the 2024 presidential election has left many in the media scratching their heads and wondering how they got it so wrong. As they tracked the finger-pointing and blame-shifting over Vice President Kamala Harris’ crushing defeat to former President Donald Trump, a stark contrast emerged between the coverage leading up to the election and the post-election analysis.

Throughout Harris’ 107-day campaign, the media portrayed her as an inspiring trailblazer who would unify the country. However, as soon as Trump was declared president-elect, a different narrative emerged. Harris was criticized for running an awful campaign, making numerous missteps and blunders. It seemed as though many in the media were covering for her shortcomings until it was no longer in their interest to do so.

This raises questions about the credibility of the media and their role in shaping public perception. Just as they downplayed Biden’s mental acuity issues until he struggled in a debate against Trump, they seemed to have glossed over Harris’ flaws until it was too late.

The infighting between the Harris and Biden camps has only added fuel to the fire, with Democrats blaming Biden for setting Harris up for failure by staying in the race too long. Some argue that Harris failed to break away from Biden on substantive policy issues and lacked the daring needed to capture voters’ attention.

While there were some voices of dissent calling out Harris for being too cautious and sticking to talking points, the majority of the media seemed content to paint a rosy picture even as the reality was much darker.

As the media grapples with their role in the election outcome, it is clear that they have a lot to answer for. Underestimating Trump’s appeal to voters and failing to understand the disconnect between Harris’ party and the working class are just a few of the missteps that need to be addressed.

Moving forward, it is crucial for the media to reflect on their coverage and ensure that they provide a balanced and accurate portrayal of political candidates. Only then can they begin to rebuild trust with the public and regain their credibility in the eyes of viewers and readers.