By Redaccion
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With the presidential election drawing near, leading voices within the progressive wing of the Democratic Party are urging Vice President Kamala Harris to adjust her closing campaign message to resonate more deeply with working-class voters.
Concerns are mounting among progressives who fear Harris is concentrating too heavily on moderate Republicans, which may risk alienating a crucial segment of the Democratic base.
In recent weeks, Harris has emphasized the threat posed by former President Donald Trump to American democracy, hoping to attract swing voters, particularly disillusioned Republicans. However, some progressives argue that this approach neglects the economic hardships felt by many working-class Americans, a key Democratic constituency. The concern is that Harris’s focus on Trump and her collaborations with figures like former Republican House leader Liz Cheney and entrepreneur Mark Cuban may overshadow the priorities of her liberal base.
Senator Bernie Sanders voiced his concerns, telling The Associated Press that while he has been actively supporting Harris’s campaign through events across rural America, he believes the vice president’s focus should shift to address the economic challenges facing working Americans. “There are a lot more working-class people who could vote for Kamala Harris than conservative Republicans,” Sanders said. “She has to start talking more to the needs of working-class people.”
Balancing Moderates and the Base
As Election Day approaches, Harris’s campaign is working to appeal to a broad coalition of voters with varying political views. Her base includes African Americans, Latinos, and young voters, groups that lean left. Nonetheless, Harris’s team believes that reaching moderate Republicans could broaden her support, particularly among educated, suburban voters who may feel uneasy about Trump.
An anonymous campaign aide emphasized that targeting undecided moderates is strategic, suggesting that around 10% of voters in key swing states remain undecided. Of those, approximately 7% are moderate Republicans, also known as “Cheney Republicans,” who may be more receptive to anti-Trump messaging.
However, this tactic has been met with criticism. Progressive leaders express frustration with Harris’s reluctance to appear alongside liberal figures like Sanders or Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a popular voice among younger Democrats. Instead, Harris has shared stages with Cheney, a once-prominent conservative who has since turned sharply against Trump, especially following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Harris is expected to deliver a key address next week at the Ellipse in Washington, a symbolic location where Trump held a rally before the Capitol attack. The speech, expected to focus on Trump’s threat to democracy, has raised concerns among some progressives who believe Harris should pivot to more tangible economic issues.
Progressive Pressure for an Economic Focus
While acknowledging the importance of highlighting Trump’s anti-democratic tendencies, progressives argue that a message centered on economic issues might resonate more effectively. Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, praised Harris’s advertisements focusing on economic challenges, such as rising grocery prices and taxation on billionaires. However, he noted a “disconnect” between this economic messaging and Harris’s recent events, which have prominently featured Cheney.
“The economic populist ad strategy is great, but the event strategy has leaned too heavily on moderate optics, which may risk depressing the base just as voting begins,” Green remarked.
Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, a progressive advocacy group, suggested that as many as 10% of progressive voters may withhold support for Harris over these frustrations. While some may choose to abstain from voting, others may even consider voting for Trump, he warned. Trump has notably worked to attract Arab American voters in Michigan, criticizing Cheney’s support for the Iraq War and calling her a “stupid war hawk.”
“We want to send a clear message: don’t take the progressive movement for granted,” Geevarghese said. “At the end of the day, the economic argument is what matters most to voters.”
Polls suggest that nearly 40% of likely voters view the economy as the most important issue in the election, with only 20% prioritizing democracy and 10% each for immigration and reproductive rights.
Harris’s Economic Platform and Progressive Allies
Harris has addressed key economic issues in her platform, proposing policies that aim to reduce grocery and prescription drug costs, cut middle-class taxes while raising taxes on the wealthy, and expand Medicare coverage. She has also committed to a $25,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers to assist with housing affordability.
Some progressive leaders, including Ocasio-Cortez, have campaigned on Harris’s behalf, with Ocasio-Cortez making appearances in Pennsylvania. Additionally, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain has been an active supporter. Former President Barack Obama has also joined the campaign, rallying in Georgia, where his popularity among progressives remains high.
Trump’s Focus on Economic Grievances
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign has seized on economic dissatisfaction, promising to address inflation, crime, and border security. Trump is expected to lay out his closing message at a rally in New York City, where he will ask voters, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” According to Trump’s campaign, Harris’s focus on democracy and Trump’s threat fails to address Americans’ day-to-day economic struggles.
Jason Miller, a senior adviser for Trump, commented, “Kamala Harris broke the economy. She broke the border. President Trump is going to fix the economy and secure the border.”
During a recent CNN town hall, Harris acknowledged that some progressives are disappointed, particularly with her stance on Israel. However, she reassured voters that economic issues remain a priority, stating, “For those who care about this, they also care about grocery prices and our democracy. They don’t want a president who admires dictators.”
