By: Donald V. Watkins
Copyrighted and Published on August 6, 2024
An Editorial Opinion
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had senile Joe Biden beaten in the 2024 race for the presidency.
To their credit, Democrats recognized this fact after the presidential debate in June and dumped Biden in July. They quickly installed Vice President Kamala Harris as their presidential nominee.
Today, Harris is poised to win the American presidency. She has moved ahead of Trump in the latest credible polls. Now, she is laser focused on winning the six swing states that matter.
Every advantage Donald Trump had over Joe Biden is gone. Trump’s campaign appears to be stuck in 1st gear, and he only has himself to blame.
All Trump has done in the past couple of weeks is called Harris names and questioned her racial identity. This tactic is turning off independent voters.
Trump’s attempted character assassination of Harris would work if he had any character, which he does not have.
Kamala Harris’ personal relationship with former California political powerbroker Willie Brown pales in comparison to Trump’s adjudicated sexual assault of E. Jean Carroll and his confirmed extramarital affairs with porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal.
In America, Harris’ racial identity is determined by law and custom. Under the “One Drop Rule,” Harris’ Jamaican father’s African ancestry makes her "Black." This slavery-era racial classification scheme remains in full force and effect today.
Democrats are Rejuvenated
Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign has rejuvenated the Democratic Party. It is also affording independent voters a viable option to Donald Trump.
My group of independent voter influencers is still assessing the candidacies of Trump and Harris. We will endorse the nominee of our choice after Labor Day. We are also willing to support the endorsed nominee with up to $75 million in Super-PAC donations, if he/she sits for a personal interview.
The choice now is whether independent voters want to go back to a period when Donald Trump thinks America was great for his segment of the American population or move forward into a progressive, diversified, and inclusive future with Kamala Harris as president.
Do we want an authoritarian form of government under Project 2025 or do we want participatory democracy under Kamala Harris?
Do we want politicians and law enforcement officials making medical decisions for women and their bodies or do we want those matters reserved for a woman and her doctor?
Do we want the federal judiciary packed with right-wing "political whores" or do we want fair-minded, independent judges who decide cases based upon the facts and applicable law?
Do we want the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza to continue, unabated, or do we want peace with justice in the Middle East?
The policy differences between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are as different as night and day, and they are endless.
Thus far, Kamala Harris seems to be making all the right moves against Donald Trump. She has galvanized her base of supporters in record time. She is sticking to the clearly define policy issues. She has raised a gigantic amount of campaign funds in only three weeks.
Unlike Trump’s curious selection of boring J.D. Vance, Harris picked an exciting vice-presidential nominee in Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Governor Walz is a natural born campaigner. J.D. Vance comes across like young child who is lost in a parking lot. Vance is completely useless to the Trump campaign.
Determining the Likely Outcome
When the 2024 race was between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, I predicted on multiple occasions that Trump would win. The polling and other objective evidence supported this prediction.
I predicted Donald Trump’s victory in 2016 and his defeat in 2020.
If Trump continues to wallow in mindless name-calling and ignorant racial identity politics, Kamala Harris will become the 47th president of the United States.
As a nominee, Harris still has plenty of political baggage to explain between now and Election Day.
Independent voters like me are tired of divisive, regressive, political rhetoric. We want Donald Trump and Kamala Harris to focus on presenting and explaining their policy positions on issues of significant public interest – something Trump seems incapable of doing.
If Donald Trump cannot shift his presidential campaign out of 1st gear, this race is over. Harris will win, decisively. Remember, political demagoguery has always had a short shelf-life in America.
I felt Harris was a good replacement before it happened. I didn't think it would carry this much momentum. I agree she has made all the right steps. I believe this pick will lead to more momentum. Any of them would in my opinion. Then the DNC. Then Trump will have no choice but to debate. She will run circles around him. Then only a short time until the election. She's in a great position.