The Accuracy of Internal Polling Leaks: A Case Study with Kamala Harris.
Introduction.
When internal polling leaks about a candidate’s performance begin to surface, it is often advised to take these stories with a grain of salt. These types of leaks are typically self-serving and aimed at attracting potential donors. Therefore, when news started spreading that former President Trump’s swing state polling indicated he was doing better than public polling suggested, I chose not to pay much attention. However, recent developments have revealed that these stories were indeed accurate.
The situation with Vice President Kamala Harris serves as a prime example of how internal polling can reveal the truth behind a candidate’s performance. Last week, it was discovered that the Harris campaign had been struggling in the polls. In an attempt to turn things around, the campaign launched a media blitz featuring Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, without teleprompters. This decision marked a significant risk for the campaign, as unscripted appearances can often lead to damaging mistakes for candidates like Harris who are known to struggle with off-the-cuff remarks.
Risky Media Appearances and Doom Spirals.
Throughout the week, both Kamala Harris and Tim Walz made multiple media appearances without a teleprompter. The campaign’s worst fear was that these unscripted appearances would only damage their candidates further. Unfortunately, this is precisely what occurred. During an appearance on “The View,” Harris failed to impress by stating that she wouldn’t do anything differently from Joe Biden if she were in his position. She made the same mistake later when Stephen Colbert offered her a chance for a do-over.
Tim Walz also found himself struggling without a teleprompter, as evidenced by multiple embarrassing gaffes that have since gone viral on social media. As a result of this blundering media blitz, Kamala’s polling numbers have worsened. This forced the campaign to continue sending Harris out for more media appearances, which only exacerbated the problem.
Inadequate Media Training and Confidence Building.
The failure of the Harris-Walz campaign to properly prepare their candidates for unscripted media appearances has led to a series of damaging gaffes and a worsening polling situation. By keeping their candidates hidden from the media, including friendly outlets, in an effort to avoid potential mistakes, the campaign missed out on valuable opportunities to build confidence and improve performance.
In politics, it is essential for candidates to be well-prepared for any media appearance, even those that may appear to be a safe bet. By shying away from media exposure, the Kamala Harris campaign only succeeded in making their candidate look unsteady, uncertain, and unpresidential – a far cry from the image they are trying to portray.
Conclusion.
As the Kamala Harris campaign’s worst fears come to fruition, it is becoming increasingly clear that their decision to avoid media appearances was ill-advised. By keeping their candidates hidden from public scrutiny, the campaign has only managed to make them look unsteady and uncertain when they are forced to appear in front of an audience without a teleprompter.
While there may be some benefits to this approach, such as avoiding potential gaffes, the overall impact on the candidates’ polling numbers suggests that hiding from media exposure is not an effective strategy for political success. Ultimately, the Kamala Harris campaign must find a way to overcome their fear of unscripted media appearances and work towards building confidence and improving performance in order to turn their fortunes around.