Her Next Move
Stories have been published this week indicating that Vice President Kamala Harris is on vacation in Hawaii, recovering from her loss in the presidential election and taking some time—perhaps until spring—to determine her next move.
Many of those stories, in media outlets favorable to her, have taken on a disapproving tone. I think that is misplaced.
First of all, it was only three weeks ago today that she conceded the presidential race—a race she had reason to believe she would win. When you go for the highest elective office in the land and miss, it’s going to take you some time to figure out what’s next. You don’t run for president and formulate a back-up plan; it’s all in for the top prize, and even considering the possibility of losing is not an option.
Some say she’s poised to run for governor in her home state of California in two years, and polls taken before the presidential election this year showed her at the top of the list of possible candidates. She’s said to be considering a run for president in 2028, as well.
Never mind that she ran a horrible presidential campaign prior to the 2020 cycle, burning through a pile of cash and not connecting with voters; dropping out, in fact, before the Iowa Caucus. Some suggest parallels between that effort on the one this year.
But it’s really hard to come back from a presidential election loss, to be so close to the top prize; the fall from that perch is steep.
Recall another sitting vice president who tried to succeed his boss and failed. That same person then ran for governor of California two years later, but lost again. I’m speaking, of course, of Richard Nixon, who followed up his 1960 presidential loss with a campaign for governor in 1962 that fell short.
But despite pledging that the press wouldn’t have Nixon to kick around anymore after that home state loss…Nixon came back and won the presidency in 1968 and 1972.
Alright, it falls off after that.
But for Kamala Harris, there is, I suppose, a blueprint. At this point, though, there are more folks who would like to see her gracefully step away from elective office. That said, it has only been three weeks, and she’ll still have the difficult task—as did Al Gore—of certifying the election of the man who beat her.
A little soon to force her to come up with Plan B…having so recently seen Plan A slip away.
