Democrats have 'fighting chance': Harris has reenergized base but must define 'what she stands for'
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Transcript
00:00Let's get more analysis and bring in Marco Vincenzino, geopolitical expert and global
00:04business advisor. Marco, thanks for being with us. We always appreciate your time here on France24.
00:08Great to see you. Harris and Waltz, in your view, a winning ticket?
00:13It's, listen, with Biden, the party was resigned to defeat. With Harris and Waltz,
00:18the party has a fighting chance, but it's still an uphill battle. Since Biden exited,
00:24there's been a honeymoon period for Kamala Harris. There's been optics of party unity,
00:28big rallies. She's had positive media coverage. However, and also, she's re-energized the base,
00:35and on the fundraising front in July alone, they raised $310 million. But doubts still do exist.
00:42Primarily, she still remains largely undefined, untested. And people are asking, who is Kamala
00:48Harris? What does she represent? And I think, in addition, during that honeymoon period,
00:53she never really answered any questions from the media. She refused interviews,
00:57and there were no major policy decisions except for an economic policy one recently in North
01:02Carolina that the Washington Post editorial board called a disappointment, a squandered chance.
01:08So at this convention, she has to answer those questions. Who exactly she is, what does she
01:13represent, and what does she stand for? So it's not enough for her to keep surfing this wave of
01:18enthusiasm that you've been talking about. She needs to somehow come off that wave, get on the
01:21beach, put down the board, and say, look, this is what I stand for. This is what I'm about. But in
01:26some ways, don't people know that already? She's talked about women's rights. She's talked about
01:30the things that she wants to sort of make policy issues for her about making life better for
01:35ordinary working people. In California politics, where she was originally from, where she was a
01:41senator, she would basically, during her election, she went from centre-left to far-left and veered
01:48according to circumstances and necessity. Because basically, Republican conservatism in the state
01:53of California is practically an extinct breed. But when you're talking about a national level,
01:58it's different. Her main mission is she has to convince a few thousand voters and seven key
02:05swing states. And this is the most—the Harris-Waltz ticket is the most progressive since 1988.
02:11Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Benson lost to George Bush Jr. And she has to prove her sense of
02:18redemption. And since she chose Waltz, who was more of the progressive, to basically to get
02:25party unity, it was a cautious, easier approach. But the thing is, now she has to prove that she's
02:31the centrist. And the last thing that many Americans want is a Californization of American
02:36politics. She has to shift to the centre and do so credibly, and in less than 90 days. It's not
02:42an easy thing, not impossible. But on his side, Trump has been struggling. Since she became the
02:47candidate, Trump has been struggling to articulate his attack, his lines of attack. He's gone personal
02:54and is part of the senior Republicans' attempts to take the policy. Because from their perspective,
03:01the Democrats, they're weak when it comes to inflation in the economy. They're very vulnerable
03:05when it comes to the immigration issue. And they're also very vulnerable in Gaza,
03:09because that is one issue that has been splitting the party asunder. They're going to try to maintain
03:13unity on. Indeed, Marco, we're understanding there are demonstrations outside the convention
03:18centre in Chicago regarding Israel-Gaza. And obviously, that's Democrat supporters criticising
03:25Kamala Harris for her stance on Israel. This is something that she needs to get very clear
03:31and very quickly. Yes, she has to do that's a difficult balancing act. Rhetorically,
03:38she's fully supporting the president and his position, basically saying we will support
03:42Israel with their needs. But at the same time, rhetorically, she's been far more critical of
03:47Israel than has been President Biden trying to placate the left wing of the party. But those
03:52in the left wing of the party, originally, when she became the candidate, they thought they would
03:56put a pause. But eventually, they said, no, we're going full speed with our attack, basically,
04:02because there's a difference between word and action. Rhetorically, you're giving us what we
04:06want. But action-wise, you're not giving us what we want. So that balancing act is a very difficult
04:11one. Secretary of State, Tony Blinken, right now is in the Middle East. He's made several trips
04:16there. He said himself, this is the last, the best, and maybe, sorry, the best and probably
04:21the last opportunity for a ceasefire. If you can manage to get a ceasefire, and that ceasefire
04:26holds till Election Day, that'll take enormous pressure off of her. If the ceasefire is not
04:30achieved, or if it is achieved, but then falls apart, that puts the pressure back on her because
04:35the Republicans, Trump and the Republicans are very united in their support, unequivocal support
04:40of Israel. Marco Vincenzino, thank you very much indeed for giving us that analysis of what to
04:47stake for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz as they begin this Democratic National Convention.
04:51Marco Vincenzino, thank you for joining us. Very much indeed.