As we near the conclusion of the highly debated 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have stumbled on the campaign trail, revealing signs of fatigue and the quirks of their personas.
Recent blunders include offensive jokes made at Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden and some of Harris’ puzzling answers during a media blitz, which critics dubbed “word salad.”
Geraldo Rivera, a media personality and former Trump supporter, suggested that Trump’s rally could signal a turning point for his 2024 campaign. He shared his thoughts with CNN‘s Wolf Blitzer, claiming, “This might be the moment things turned for Donald Trump.”
Trump’s rally attracted attention when comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made derogatory jokes about Puerto Rico and included offensive remarks regarding various ethnic groups. Trump also intensified his anti-immigrant rhetoric, suggesting that the U.S. is “occupied” by migrants.
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Chapin Fay, a Republican strategist, noted that Trump’s political agenda might be overshadowed by the controversial remarks made at his rally, a sentiment echoed by various political commentators.
On the other hand, Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, dismissed these concerns, stating he wasn’t worried about Hinchcliffe’s jokes, emphasizing the comedian’s lack of affiliation with the campaign.
A senior advisor from the Trump camp clarified that Trump’s views don’t align with the comedian’s remarks.
Meanwhile, supporters of Harris are anxious about her strategy of criticizing Trump as a “fascist,” which they feel distracts from her policy messages. Following her recent media appearances, some say her responses felt outdated or rehearsed.
David Axelrod, a former chief strategist for Barack Obama, criticized Harris during a recent town hall, calling her responses “word salad city” and argued she skirted tough questions on foreign policy and immigration.
Political analyst Chris Cillizza highlighted that Harris claiming she wouldn’t change anything from Biden’s presidency was a significant misstep, pointing out it could be detrimental to her campaign as it essentially endorses Biden’s record.
As both candidates face scrutiny, recent polls show them close, with Harris currently leading at 48.1% to Trump’s 46.6%, according to FiveThirtyEight, which aggregates reliable polling data.