Be it Resolved, Kamala Harris is the Democrats' best hope to defeat Donald Trump

Aug 13, 2024

Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee with a strong background in the White House and skilled debating prowess, engages in a lively discussion about her readiness to face Donald Trump. Supporters are optimistic about her appeal to moderates, while critics highlight past challenges and perceptions of her liberal stance. The debate also delves into the importance of her identity in the electoral landscape and the strategic dynamics at play. Insights from political strategists and editors contribute to a nuanced view of her campaign's potential.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Kamala Harris: Contender or Compromise?

02:28 • 23min

Examining Kamala Harris's Electability in the Upcoming Election

25:26 • 5min

Navigating Identity and Voter Perception in the 2024 Presidential Race

30:46 • 3min

Analyzing Kamala Harris's Campaign Dynamics

34:01 • 10min

Closing Reflections on an Engaging Debate

44:06 • 2min

Within hours of Joe Biden’s announcement that he was bowing out of the presidential race Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee. With the full weight of the Democratic party behind her and no opposition to speak of, VP Harris has been awarded the top ticket that proved so elusive to her four years ago. To her supporters, she is uniquely qualified to beat President Trump in November. Her prosecutorial debate skills, experience in the White House, and diverse background has excited voters and attracted moderates who were growing tired of Joe Biden. To her detractors, she is the same Kamala who flamed out early in the 2020 Democratic primaries, was a deeply unpopular Vice President, has an awkward stage presence, no real policy platform, and is too liberal to appeal to swing voters. In anointing Kamala Harris without any real contest, they argue, the DNC has hitched their wagon to an untested candidate who will all but guarantee a Donald Trump victory in November.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Cheri Jacobus, a nationally-recognized political strategist, pundit and writer whose podcast, Politics with Cheri Jacobus, covers all the news coming out of Washington.

Arguing against the resolution is Elizabeth Nolan Brown, the Senior Editor of Reason Magazine.

The host of this Munk Debates podcast episode is Rudyard Griffiths.

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Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch