‘Too transparent and calculated’: CNN analyst slams Harris for dropping ball, says she must be ‘excellent’ to win

CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein called out Vice President Kamala Harris for dropping the ball on her media responses Tuesday during a podcast, stating she has to be “excellent” to win the 2024 race.

Following criticism from Republicans for avoiding media interviews, Harris’ campaign ramped up her appearances in the past week as polls show her slipping with key Democratic voting blocs, including Hispanic and black voters. On “Hacks on Tap,” Brownstein told fellow political pundits David Axel Rod and Mike Murphy that while he hopes Harris will win in November, her campaign’s media and voter outreach efforts have become “too transparent and calculated.”

“They’re gear shifting now, though. I mean, I agree it’s a problem. I have yet to see a Democratic campaign that can’t get their African American vote basically lined up by Election Day — maybe she’s going to be the first,” Brownstein said. “There is a gender aspect to this. You know the Democrats are making double identity history here, great, good for the country. My daughter will enjoy it, I’ll enjoy it on her behalf.”

“As a Trump hater, I want her to win, but they’re stretching some rubber bands here. The only way to win is for her to be excellent and the only way to be excellent, is to be able to answer, why are you different than Biden? Which I think would be like 3×5 card one in any campaign in her situation and jump into the spotlight, grab the microphone. No more of this [sleep] into victory stuff. She’s got to drive the music of earning it — being out there. Not this transactional stuff, ‘I’ll do Charlamagne cause black men hate me.’ It’s all too transparent and calculated,” Brownstein continued.

Since becoming the Democratic presidential candidate in July, Vice President Kamala Harris has reportedly sought to distance herself from President Joe Biden, as voters have disapproved of his handling of key issues like the economy. However, during her Oct. 8 interview on ABC’s “The View,” Harris said “not a thing” came to mind when asked if she would have done anything differently over the past four years.

Despite holding a majority of the black voters, Trump’s support among black men has surged to 16%, according to the Howard University Initiative data.

In an effort to appeal to this bloc, former President Barack Obama spoke at a Pennsylvania rally on Oct. 10, urging black men to back Harris, noting backstage that her “turnout” numbers lag behind his, particularly within the black community. Harris also appeared on Charlamagne Tha God‘s show Tuesday evening for a town hall-style event, following her announcement of new proposals for black men’s small businesses.

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