Good Vibes Alone Are Not Enough for the US Election Campaign

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have kicked off their election campaign by presenting themselves as a refreshingly optimistic pair. But their opponents are not asleep.

Kamala Harris currently has a clear window of opportunity. Following the announcement of authentic “regular guy” Tim Walz as the vice presidential candidate, the campaign received over $20 million in donations. The duo’s first appearance together generated a wave of enthusiasm recently seen only at Donald Trump rallies. Instead of laughing at elderly Joe Biden, the internet is now laughing at “weird” Trump and his “creepy” running mate, J.D. Vance. Meanwhile, the Harris-Walz team is riding a wave of polling success in the run-up to the Democratic convention.

100 Days of Riding the Wave?

Their good vibes campaign is refreshing, but it will not stay fresh for 100 days. Their opponents have spent a long time digging up scandals and exploiting weaknesses. They are already throwing everything they have at Harris and Walz, labeling them “socialists,” a term that has to be considered a serious insult in the U.S., given that it is rooted in good old Cold War tradition.

The economy remains the No. 1 election issue in the U.S., where the American dream seems to be over. Much will depend on how credibly the sitting vice president can offer undecided middle-class voters a vision for economic progress. Anxiety about a possible recession is once again spreading in the U.S. People remember the simple tax giveaways from Trump’s time in office. “It’s the economy, stupid!” In any case, evolving from the most unpopular vice president in U.S. history to a credible hope for the future will take more than just seizing this initial window of opportunity.