Pod Save America Exclusive: The Harris Campaign On What Went Wrong
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Nov 26, 2024 
Jen O'Malley Dillon, the Harris-Walz campaign manager, along with David Plouffe, a seasoned political strategist, Quentin Fulks, deputy manager focusing on advertising, and Stephanie Cutter, communications expert, dive into the campaign's missteps. They discuss navigating the political landscape, the impact of controversial ads, and missed opportunities in media engagement, particularly with platforms like Joe Rogan. The team reflects on voter perceptions and emphasizes the need for innovative strategies to connect with diverse demographics in future elections.
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A Close Race
- Kamala Harris began the race behind Trump, but closed the gap, making it a "jump ball" race by Election Day.
- The campaign needed favorable breaks, like better Election Day turnout or winning over late-deciding voters, but the political climate remained challenging.
Starting Cold
- The campaign had no contingency plan for a candidate switch and had to start from scratch when Biden dropped out.
- They focused on shoring up delegates and defining Harris while managing the crisis.
Triple Messaging Challenge
- The campaign had to quickly define Harris to the electorate while reminding them of Trump's past and differentiating their visions.
- This required balancing introducing Harris, reminding voters of Trump's term, and addressing current political realities.