Pollsters Still Highlighting Kamala’s Failures
Republican pollster Frank Luntz didn’t mince words when discussing Vice President Kamala Harris’s failed presidential campaign, calling out the political misstep that many believe contributed to her loss. In an interview on ABC News’s This Week, Luntz told Jonathan Karl that the advice given to Harris to focus her campaign primarily on former President Donald Trump was a disastrous move, labeling it “political malpractice.”
“We all know what Trump is,” Luntz stated. “We lived through his presidency. Whoever advised Harris to make Trump the center of her campaign completely misunderstood the dynamics of this election. People’s views on Trump were already solidified—it wasn’t about Trump; it was about her.” Luntz’s words point to a common critique that Harris, rather than focusing on her own vision for America, became overly fixated on attacking Trump, a tactic that ultimately failed to resonate with voters.
This week’s election results underscore the gravity of this misstep. Harris’s campaign was decisively beaten by President-elect Trump, who not only retained support in crucial battleground states but also flipped several states that had gone for Biden in 2020. Luntz further argued that Trump’s appeal to working-class men, particularly those who feel left behind by the establishment, was a key factor in his victory.
“Men in this country—especially middle-class, working-class men—felt ignored by the Democrats,” Luntz said. “Trump became their voice. The Democratic Party ignored them at its peril. It’s not enough to focus just on women’s votes; they need to keep the men in their coalition as well.” Luntz’s comments were backed by exit polling that showed Trump leading Harris by a wide margin on critical qualities like leadership and the ability to bring about change.
In addition, Trump’s appeal among Latino men grew significantly, as new exit polls revealed 55% of Latino men voted for him, up from just 41% in 2020. This surge further highlights how Trump was able to expand his base beyond traditional Republican strongholds, leaving Harris and the Democrats scrambling to address the growing disconnect with working-class voters.
