Now that the Democratic party has its new ticket in place, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz instead of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, it’s useful to compare this pairing to that on the Republican side.
There are obvious differences, of course. The Democrats now have a middle-aged Black woman (of Jamaican- Indian heritage) and a middle-aged White guy, and the Republicans have an old White guy (Donald Trump) and a young White guy (J. D. Vance). Both of the Democratic candidates have years of experience in government, at many different levels, while the Republican candidates have a much sketchier background.
Trump has served one four-year term as U.S. President, while Vance has been the junior senator from Ohio since 2023.
They have other experience, of course, Trump as a sleazy and notvery- successful businessman and reality- TV star, Vance as a venture capitalist and writer of the bestselling book Hillbilly Elegy, a memoir in which he trashes his Appalachian relatives.
Nothing in the experience of either suggests that they’re inclined to put the welfare of others before their own personal interests.
On the other ticket, Harris has served as a courtroom prosecutor and attorney general for California, jobs in which she brought to justice corporations who defrauded customers and defendants who committed sexual abuse (two of the same offenses that Trump has been found guilty of in court cases). As Harris said soon after being designated the Democratic nominee for President, “I know Donald Trump’s type.”
California then sent her to the U. S. Senate, where she displayed her remarkable analytical and prosecutorial skills in questioning reluctant witnesses about proposed legislation.
Importantly, for the past four years, Harris has served as Vice-President for President Biden, who has been a truly significant President, with accomplishments on the world stage that include saving and expanding NATO), and with historic legislation proposed and passed (much of it bipartisan) in the areas of climate change, gun control, infrastructure funding, and the return of manufacturing to the U.S., to name just a few.
Trump’s main accomplishment as President? A huge tax cut for millionaires and billionaires, which exploded the U.S. deficit.
Not least of Biden’s contributions is that he has prepared Harris to become President, before endorsing her to replace him on the Democratic ticket. She was often included in his discussions with world leaders and negotiations with lawmakers.
She has, in effect, taken a master class in being President. Harris is quite possibly the person best prepared to be President who has ever run for that office.
Her running mate, Walz, has served 24 years in the Army National Guard, as a winning assistant high-school coach, and as Governor of Minnesota, all occupations in which he worked with others to achieve common goals.
Among his many accomplishments as Governor that have helped Minnesotans, he lowered taxes on seniors, working-class families, and small businesses. He also established paid leave and sick days for workers and restored voting rights to previously incarcerated individuals.
The campaigns of the two parties differ significantly as well.
Harris and Walz are leading a campaign that is positive, inclusive, even joyful. People are rushing to donate money and to volunteer their time and effort. Two-thirds of the donations to Harris during July came from first-time donors (Alana Wise, “Harris Campaign Raises $36 Million in 24 Hours After Announcing Walz as Running Mate” (www.npr.org.kamala-harris- tim-walz-fundraising).
Trump and Vance are leading a campaign that is negative, angry, and filled with grievance over perceived slights by others. Whereas the Harris/Walz campaign raised $310 during July, Trump/ raised only $139 million (Wise).
Looking back at previous campaigns for President by various candidates, it’s clear that positive campaigns almost always win. Positivity and joy bring excitement to a race, energize supporters, and cause undecided voters to look favorably at the candidate being promoted.
Weeks remain before the November 5 election day, and much can happen in politics before then. But at this point in the campaign, expressions on the candidates’ faces suggest the probable outcome.
Trump and Vance show the glower of grievance. Harris and Walz radiate excitement and joy.
Joy usually wins.