In mid-sept 2024 Kamala Harris faced a tough-to-swallow moment when she met with Teamsters bosses in Washington DC. Despite her pro-worker pitch the union leaders werenʼt buying it (marking first time since 96 they didnt back Democrats).
The ex-vice presidents campaign started after Joe Bidenʼs surprise july exit - a last-minute shake-up that turned the race upside-down. Her history-making run as first woman-of-color nominee brought quick wins: billion-dollar fundraising record and big-name support from celebs like Taylor Swift.
We must protect hard-working Americans who arent always seen or heard
The campaigns key issues didnt connect with blue-collar voters concerns. While she focused on womenʼs rights and democracy-protection Trump kept hitting on pocket-book worries; inflation became her biggest weak-spot. Exit polls showed a clear split: 79% of economy-focused voters picked Trump while Harris got 54% of womenʼs support.
Her running-mate pick Tim Walz (a gun-owning midwest governor) couldnt help win rural votes. The sept Hurricane Helene response brought extra trouble - as fake news about disaster funds spread fast on social-media. In michigan Arab-American voters disappointment with gaza policy made things worse.
The final electoral count showed Trump winning 279-223. The result pointed to a big shift: working-class voters who once backed Democrats now firmly in republican camp