Vice President Kamala Harris shares her journey from District Attorney in San Francisco to national prominence. She recounts the challenges she faced as an underdog candidate, including unique political dynamics and relationships that shaped her path. The discussion highlights her grassroots beginnings, the thrilling atmosphere of election nights, and the pressing community issues at stake. Harris's insights reveal the strategic navigation necessary to overcome attacks and build alliances in a competitive political landscape.
Kamala Harris's rise in politics showcases her strategic campaigning skills and ability to create momentum despite starting from a disadvantageous position.
Her adeptness at deflecting negative attacks while focusing on critical issues positioned her as a strong candidate against incumbents and critics.
Deep dives
Kamala Harris's Campaign Startup
Kamala Harris's entry into the San Francisco district attorney race was marked by an urgent need for strategic campaigning as she started from a low polling position of just 6%. Rebecca Prozen, who was approached to be Harris's campaign manager, recognized the potential for Harris to leverage her strengths as a trial attorney against an incumbent with management issues and vulnerabilities. The campaign had limited resources and improvised tactics to create a groundswell of support, exemplified by using her coffee table as a makeshift stage for a key event. Despite initial doubts, Prozen's confidence in Harris's abilities grew as the campaign gained momentum and recognized the historical importance of changing the political landscape through representation.
Overcoming Political Challenges
Throughout the campaign, Harris faced scrutiny over her relationship with former Mayor Willie Brown, which opponents sought to leverage against her. In a decisive moment during a public event, she turned the narrative against her rivals by highlighting their own scandals, showcasing her ability to navigate and deflect negative attacks effectively. This skill, combined with her focus on the pressing issues facing the district attorney's office, including a backlog of murder cases, helped her stand out during the campaign debates. Ultimately, her strategic approach and articulate responses led to a successful campaign transition into the runoff, solidifying her status as a formidable candidate.
Election Day is around the corner and Vice President Kamala Harris could become the first woman, first Black woman, and first South-Asian to sit in the Oval Office. In light of this moment, we’re resharing our 2020 series “Kamala: Next in Line,” from MSNBC and Wondery. Hosted by Joy Reid, "Next In Line" is an intimate and immersive look into what drives Harris, what her critics say about her, and how she arrived at this historic moment.
This is a special program for our MSNBC Premium subscribers. Listen to an excerpt from the first episode here. And to download the full series, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. You’ll find the series in the How to Win feed.
Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll get all MSNBC original podcasts ad-free, along with bonus exciting content from Prosecuting Donald Trump, Rachel Maddow, and more. Thanks for listening and subscribing!
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