Leaked memos show advice Harris ignored in bid to beat Trump
A new book titled *2024: How Trump retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America* reveals leaked memos from Republican strategist Maria Comella, who advised Kamala Harris during her campaign. The memos suggest that Harris was not effectively connecting with voters, and that her team should have implemented a strategy to appeal to independents and moderate Republicans by distancing herself from President Biden. Comella emphasized the need for Harris to create a distinct identity separate from Biden, acknowledge failures within the Democratic Party, and respond to issues such as the economy and public safety.
additionally, Comella recommended that Harris appear on Joe Rogan’s podcast to showcase authenticity while avoiding contentious topics. The memos highlight a broader messaging strategy aimed at winning over undecided voters rather than merely opposing Trump supporters.Despite the insights, Harris’s team reportedly did not adjust their campaign approach in response to these warnings.
Leaked memos: Harris warned to distance herself from Biden and go on Joe Rogan podcast
Former Vice President Kamala Harris was warned in the closing weeks of her campaign that her strategy was not working, but her aides declined to course correct, according to a new book.
In a series of memos from Maria Comella, a Republican political strategist who has advised Democrats including former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Comella told Harris campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon that the then-vice president was not providing voters with a “reason” to cast a ballot for her.
LEAKED MEMO SHOWS ADVISERS TOLD BIDEN HE WOULD BE HELPED BY EARLY DEBATE WITH TRUMP
In the four memos — published in 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, the new book by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, which is out Tuesday — Comella advised Harris to appeal to independents and what she described as “soft” Republican voters by putting distance between herself and former President Joe Biden.
“The current focus of rolling out and utilizing Republicans like Liz Cheney gives comfort that a soft Republican who dislikes Trump is not alone, but it doesn’t give reason to vote for Harris,” she wrote. “They may not want to vote for [President Donald] Trump, but they aren’t ready yet to cast a vote for Harris. Flip the concept. Instead of Republicans for Harris, how do we make it Harris for Republicans? This general framework is applicable to independents and moderate undecideds as well because it creates a structure that either makes it possible to vote for her or comfortable enough not to turn out to vote for Trump.”
In a separate memo, Comella recommended doing so by conducting a listening tour and through the bipartisan issue of fentanyl addiction.
“You have to meet people where they are and that comes from local faces that they are more likely to trust or at least like,” she wrote. “The reality is that Josh Shapiro in [Pennsylvania] has earned more GOP votes in PA than either Liz Cheney or Adam Kinzinger. More importantly, this audience does not want to be lectured to and told who to vote for. Celebrities and never-Trump supporters have the opposite effect with these audiences.”
Comella also advised Harris to acknowledge how Democrats had missed “the mark” on the economy and inflation, border security, the COVID-19 pandemic, crime and public safety, and climate policies, such as Biden’s electric vehicles mandate, during her sit-down interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier and more broadly on the campaign trail.
“Create clear daylight/differentiation between a Harris and Biden administration,” she wrote. “Acknowledge where the Democratic Party hasn’t gotten it right — a willingness to not just work with the other side, but call out your own party when necessary. Meet the moment by contrasting the stakes on the issues.”
Comella also encouraged Harris to appear on Joe Rogan’s podcast and not underscore the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol during her closing argument address at the Ellipse.
“Be prepared to play,” she wrote of Rogan. “While he won’t be aggressive, he will be looking for authenticity and it’s an opportunity to differentiate in style.”
The strategist added: “Don’t follow him down rabbit holes. Get out of topics or areas of disagreement with a broader messaging pivot.”
Dawsey, Pager, and Arnsdor reported earlier this week on another 2024 campaign memo. In that memo, written by Biden‘s advisers, his aides told the former president to debate Trump as early as practicable to draw a contrast between himself and the now-president. Biden’s performance during that debate, in June last year, ended his bid for reelection.
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