Kamala Harris using ‘vibes’ to beat Trump – CNN host Fareed Zakaria
CNN host and Washington Post writer Fareed Zakaria has commented on Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, suggesting it’s light on substance and heavy on emotional appeal. According to Zakaria, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, are focusing on a “vibes”-driven strategy to challenge Donald Trump.
In an Op-ed published on August 10, Zakaria noted, “Voters often rely on gut feelings and then rationalize their choices, whether consciously or not,” and argued that Harris’s campaign seems designed around this intuition-based approach.
Recent polls show Harris is making significant strides in key battleground states, even leading Trump in three of them. On August 8, Trump criticized Harris in a press conference, claiming she lacks the ideas and policies to match his own.
Zakaria wrote, “Harris has run a remarkably focused and disciplined campaign, deliberately light on substance and high on feelings. She has yet to give extensive interviews or detailed news conferences, opting instead to connect with voters on a personal level as a warm, dynamic, and optimistic figure.” He added, “It’s heavy on vibes, and so far, it seems to be working.”
Zakaria also praised Harris’s choice of Tim Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, calling Walz’s folksy and affable image a resonant choice for the campaign. He wrote, “The Tim Walz pick highlights that sometimes emotional intelligence (EQ) can be as crucial as intellectual intelligence (IQ).”
The columnist observed that while Trump and the Republican Party have been adept at emotional politics, Harris’s campaign, which focuses on evoking “joy,” is winning the public relations battle. Zakaria concluded, “To succeed, Harris will need to address the substance of her campaign. Abortion remains a strong issue for Democrats, while immigration remains a key weakness that energizes Republicans and some independents.”