‘Kamala Harris is the embodiment of the Obama coalition’ says political strategist

We spoke to pollster and political strategist Cornell Belcher.

Matt Frei: We spoke literally a week ago, and when I suggested the possibility that Joe Biden might be bowing out of the race, you more or less said, ‘no, no, no, no, no’. He is there to stay and his poll numbers back him up.

Cornell Belcher: Well he changed his mind.

Matt Frei: I hate to mention it.

Cornell Belcher: He changed his mind.

Matt Frei: Were your poll numbers wrong?

Cornell Belcher: I think it was drip, drip, drip. Another week, another two weeks of negative press stories of Dems fighting amongst themselves, which is really problematic, as opposed to turning our attention to Donald Trump.

Matt Frei: So was it the polls? Was it the money drying up? Was it whispers in his ear from his wife and his son, maybe? What do you think made it?

Cornell Belcher: I think it was a confluence of things, really I do, but I do more than anything else, I do think Democrats couldn’t stand another two, three weeks of Democrats fighting, as opposed to focusing on Donald Trump in the contrast.

Matt Frei: So now we have Kamala Harris. Although people have opinions about her, especially Republicans, negative ones and positive ones on the other side, in a sense she’s got a blank slate here, she can redefine herself?

Cornell Belcher: She does.

Matt Frei: What does she need to do?

Cornell Belcher: One, she has to define herself, right. Raise her name, ID. They know her, but they don’t really know her story. And she has a remarkable story, of how she rose up through politics in California and what she’s been fighting for. She’s got to talk to the voters, what she’s been fighting for in California, and how she’s going to fight for them in the future.

Matt Frei: And which demographic does she need to persuade, especially, in order to get into the White House?

Cornell Belcher: It’s not one single demographic, but it’s a coalition. I think more than almost any other candidate on the national stage right now, she is the embodiment and inheritor of what I call the Obama coalition. I worked for Obama on both of his campaigns and that group of younger, more diverse Americans who fell in love with Barack Obama and rallied around Barack Obama and propelled him into winning back to back majorities. I think she has a real opportunity to engage them and mobilise them, better than any other candidate.

Matt Frei: But can they fall in love with her?

Cornell Belcher: I don’t think they need to fall in love with her. I think they can. I think in her they see themselves, that she is a person of diversity. She is the swirl of the new America.

Matt Frei: But considering what you just said, it would be really nice to get an endorsement from Barack Obama. There hasn’t been one yet. What is going on?

Cornell Belcher: I think it would be almost even better to get one from Michelle Obama. But yes.

Matt Frei: It’s a serious question. The Obamas haven’t said anything yet. Everyone else has said something.

Cornell Belcher: He’s the former president. Former speaker Pelosi came out today and endorsed. So I think it’s a progression, and I think pretty soon.

Matt Frei: But what are they waiting for?

Cornell Belcher: I think they are waiting to get all the politics lined up. Again, I think you need to get Pelosi lined up and in place. And I think after Pelosi, I think you’ll soon see, by probably this week, I’ll be really surprised if he doesn’t get behind.

Matt Frei: And we talked a little bit earlier about the pick of vice president. How important is that for her, in order to move the dial in her direction?

Cornell Belcher: It’s people like us, we always weigh in on how important it is. And the end voters are still voting for the top of the ticket, right? I think you can do yourself harm with the wrong pick. But history tells us…

Matt Frei: Sarah Palin?

Cornell Belcher: Exactly. But history tells us that the vice presidential pick does not change the trajectory dynamics of a race, unless it’s the wrong pick.

Matt Frei: Also if you dwell too much on the vice presidential pick, people are going to say, hang on a minute, I’m not voting for him. I’m voting for the main person.

Cornell Belcher: You’ve still got to sell her to the American people and make her comfortable, make people comfortable with her.

Matt Frei: And just very briefly, what is her best line of attack against Donald Trump?

Cornell Belcher: Well, she’s a prosecutor. And part of the problem is, it’s a target rich environment. From everything from sexual assault, to felony convictions, to his running of the country and to chaos. So it’s a plethora of assaults. But I think where she’s leaned in, is fighting for democracy and our rights and freedoms.

Matt Frei: And she can try and bring out the worst in him?

Cornell Belcher: While the worst is already out. I mean, what more?

Matt Frei: Of his misogyny, or whatever, alleged misogyny?

Cornell Belcher: He was adjudicated and found guilty of sexual assault. I think the women’s vote will be critical this election cycle.