Blowout stakes
Kamala Harris managed to quickly pull ahead in this election just by entering it. Ever since, her lead has been slowly growing by small increments. We keep waiting to see when or if the dam might finally break and Harris might be able to open up, say, an eight point lead instead of a four point lead in the polling averages. So far it hasn’t happened. The successful Democratic National Convention didn’t move the needle much. Her massive debate win didn’t move the needle much. Now we’re left waiting to find out if Tim Walz’s debate victory – which was more muted but was nonetheless a victory – will move the needle.
After all, we want this election to be a blowout, right? We want Kamala Harris to win by such a large and obvious margin that she’s declared the winner on election night. We want her to win with enough room to spare that Donald Trump’s inevitable election denials and legal challenges will simply get laughed at. We want her to win by a big enough margin that she carries the House and Senate. We want a blowout. And I’m really starting to think that it comes down to us.
There’s still plenty more that can happen in 35 days, especially in an election this unusual. But the reality is that ever since the election got hugely shaken up by Kamala Harris replacing Joe Biden, not much else has moved the needle. This is still pretty much the same election it was six weeks ago. We can’t presume that some big October surprise will happen and change everything. It’s possible that any remaining big ticket “surprises” are already baked in and won’t change the landscape.
When that happens, the one thing that does change things is small ball. By that I mean people knocking on doors, phone banking, sending postcards to voters, helping with voter registration and turnout. When the ground isn’t actively shifting beneath your feet in an election cycle, going out and getting individual additional voters for your side is what does move the needle.
And so it really is going to come down to us. I mean it, you and me. Those of you reading this. And don’t assume I mean someone else reading this. I mean you. If you’re politically invested enough to be reading this article, then you’re politically powerful enough to go out and get additional votes for your side beyond your own vote. Find a local Kamala Harris campaign opportunity and get involved. You can get more votes for your side. You can be the difference between Kamala Harris winning by a dangerously narrow four points or an infinitely safer eight points. There are no more debates in this election. There are no more big swings. The margin of victory really is going to come down to people like you and me. Let’s do this.
