On Tuesday, Republican strategist Karl Rove remarked that Democrats are both “falling in line” and “falling in love” with Vice President Harris at the Democratic National Convention. Rove highlighted the usual patterns of each party, noting that Republicans traditionally unite behind their nominee while Democrats tend to become enamored with their candidates. This convention, however, is seeing a blend of both phenomena.
Despite this enthusiasm, Rove cautioned that Harris’s path to the presidency is not assured. He pointed out potential economic challenges, such as inflation, that could undermine her campaign. Harris’s recent economic proposals, including a federal ban on price gouging, were mentioned as efforts to address these concerns.
Rove criticized the term “Bidenomics,” suggesting it could be a liability if the policies under that label are perceived as ineffective. “If you’ve got a bad product, don’t put your name on it,” Rove said, implying that positive claims about the economy might not resonate with voters who feel the impact of rising costs.
These comments came as the convention prepared for its second day, following a high-profile first night that featured key speeches and a surprise appearance by Harris. The vice president expressed gratitude towards President Biden for his leadership, while Biden himself gave a heartfelt keynote address, passing the torch to Harris and receiving a warm reception from the audience. Hillary Clinton also spoke on the first night of the convention.