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Kamala Harris Campaigns Like She Will Govern: Urgent, Authentic
The Democratic candidate seems at ease, focused, and direct; within the shortened election window we are seeing the rare confluence of campaign style and governance style.
A Woman for Our Time
I met Kamala Harris in 2003 during her very first campaign for public office. She was running for San Francisco District Attorney and was perched on 24th Street in the family-oriented Noe Valley neighborhood, meeting people and asking for their vote. We shook hands, had a short exchange, and I went away thinking: She comes off like a winner — poised, authentic, engaged.
Exactly as she presents herself in 2024.
One of the complicated aspects of American elections is the dissonance between campaign skills and governance skills. The two sets are markedly different, and I have seen the clever campaign strategist sweep into office only to be wholly unprepared for the rigors of actually governing.
Soaring speeches that seemed inspirational on the trail come off as empty when there is a crisis and the office-holder neglects the nuts-and-bolts; personal warmth that helped win the election dissipates quickly if the leader can’t…
