A CNN panel on Wednesday explored growing concerns among Democrats regarding Kamala Harris’ prospects in the 2024 presidential election as she faces a close race against former President Donald Trump.
The discussion, aired on Inside Politics with Dana Bash, focused on the tight polling numbers in the seven key battleground states that will likely determine the election outcome.
According to the latest RealClearPolitics polling averages, Harris and Trump are running neck and neck in these critical states.
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Panelists noted that while Democrats are confident in their ground game, many within the party fear a repeat of the 2016 election, when Trump unexpectedly defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton despite her lead in national polls.
CNN correspondent Priscilla Alvarez highlighted the growing anxiety within Democratic circles as the election draws closer. “Talk to Democrats, they’re always pretty boastful about their ground game, and they continue to be so, but that needs to turn into votes,” Alvarez said. “Certainly, some anxiety and nerves are setting in as election day approaches and those polls just remain deadlocked.”
CNN anchor Dana Bash agreed, emphasizing that many Democrats are still haunted by the 2016 upset. “I talked to a Democratic activist yesterday who says, ‘I feel like we’re sleepwalking into 2016.’ There are a lot of differences, but the [post-traumatic stress] is real for Democrats,” Bash said.
Adding to the discussion, CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten pointed out that if Trump outperforms his current polling by the same margin he did against Joe Biden in 2020, he could win enough swing states to defeat Harris “in a blowout.”
Enten’s analysis underscores concerns about polling accuracy and voter turnout, particularly in key states.
CNN senior White House correspondent Kayla Tausche also drew parallels to 2016, noting that Hillary Clinton had a sizable lead over Trump at this point in the election cycle. “Eight years ago, Hillary Clinton was up by 12 points over Donald Trump. She had 50%, Trump had about 38%. And so when you look at these polls that show Harris and Trump are still within the margin of error, that right there is one of the main reasons why you have that anxiety,” Tausche said.
Tausche also pointed out that Harris’ path to the Democratic nomination has not been without controversy.
Harris secured the nomination in July after President Biden dropped out and endorsed her, despite receiving little support from primary voters. “The fact that she wasn’t battle-tested in the primaries is a source of consternation within the campaign,” Tausche added.
CNN senior political analyst Nia-Malika Henderson echoed the concerns about Harris’ campaign strategy, noting that Democrats are worried about whether the vice president is effectively engaging her voter base. “The idea that, is this campaign spending too much time in rural white areas, standing beside Liz Cheney, and not enough with the sort of low-information base voters?” Henderson said. “That is a real worry.”
Journalist Mark Halperin, speaking on Tuesday, added that based on private polling he has seen, Harris is on a difficult trajectory in swing states. He noted that both Democrats and Trump affiliates he has spoken with agree that Trump is gaining ground in these key battlegrounds.
As the 2024 election approaches, Democrats are increasingly concerned about whether they can mobilize enough voters to defeat Trump, particularly in the crucial swing states where polls remain tight.
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