Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin remarked that while Democrats organized a successful convention last week, Vice President Harris has valid reasons to see herself as the underdog in the presidential race.
Farah Griffin also noted that despite the large audience drawn by the Democratic event, the contest remains unpredictable between Harris and former President Trump.
Griffin concludes that the candidate who moves toward the center first will likely succeed, given both Trump and Harris have policy vulnerabilities
“Seventy-five days is still a long time. Trump is a master at drawing attention and reclaiming the spotlight. He just got the RFK Jr. endorsement, which brings both advantages and disadvantages,” she said during a CNN interview with Wolf Blitzer on “The Situation Room.”
Griffin emphasized the close nature of the race, highlighting her agreement with the Axelrod perspective, suggesting Harris should ideally be leading by two points if Democrats expect to win. Harris herself acknowledged her underdog status, despite polls showing her slightly ahead.
“We still have much to prove to the American people,” Harris commented during her bus tour with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, expressing her intent to earn voter support in the remaining weeks of the campaign.
Griffin stressed that Harris’s campaign is mindful of the need to appeal beyond her traditional base. However, she emphasized that Harris must define her policies before Trump’s campaign shapes the narrative.
With both candidates having potential vulnerabilities in policy, Griffin concluded that whoever moves toward the middle first will likely prevail.
