Harris Assembles Campaign Team for Rapid Presidential Bid Preparation
Vice President Kamala Harris swiftly organizes a core team of advisers to prepare for her presidential campaign. With a debate against Trump scheduled, Harris focuses on strategy and messaging in compressed timeframe.
In a swift response to unexpected political developments, Vice President Kamala Harris is rapidly assembling a campaign team for her presidential bid. The 59-year-old Harris, who made history as the first female, African American, and Asian American vice president, is now facing the challenge of preparing for a high-stakes campaign in a compressed timeframe.
A small group of close aides has been meeting regularly with Harris since June, initially to prepare for a vice-presidential debate. This team has now evolved into her campaign's brain trust, a term reminiscent of Franklin D. Roosevelt's close advisers. The group includes Lorraine Voles, Sheila Nix, Karen Dunn, and Rohini Kosoglu, among others.
These strategy sessions often take place at the Naval Observatory, the vice president's official residence since 1974. Interestingly, this location houses a 26-inch refracting telescope that was once the world's largest. When travel demands, the meetings occur on the road, with some participants joining via video conference.
Harris, who served as California's Attorney General from 2011 to 2017, has expressed a desire to emphasize her prosecutorial background in her campaign messaging. This strategy has become a central part of her stump speech, reflecting her experience in the legal field before entering national politics.
The campaign's rapid assembly follows President Joe Biden's unexpected exit from the race on July 21, 2024, leaving Harris as the likely Democratic nominee. With the Democratic National Convention scheduled for August 19-22, 2024, Harris and her team have a mere month to shape her message and campaign strategy.
A crucial event on the horizon is the September 10 debate against Donald Trump. This face-off will be a significant test for Harris, especially given the historical context of presidential debates, which have been a staple of U.S. elections since the Kennedy-Nixon debates in 1960.
"Think about this: 89 wake-ups. I've been saying this. Eight-nine days — we can do anything for 89 days. Telling people, 'Sleep when you're dead.' We've got work to do right now — right now. 89 days to make Kamala Harris the next president of the United States."
The compressed timeline has intensified the campaign's efforts. Harris is reportedly spending considerable time reviewing briefing materials, often while aboard Air Force Two, the designated aircraft for the Vice President's travel.
As the November 5, 2024, election approaches, Harris faces the challenge of balancing debate preparation, policy formulation, and public engagement. Her team is working to schedule media interviews and address criticisms about her accessibility to the press.
The upcoming months will be crucial for Harris as she transitions from her role as Vice President to presidential candidate. Her performance in the debate and her ability to connect with voters will be critical factors in determining the success of her rapidly assembled campaign.
