As the vice president introduced her new running mate at an energetic rally in Philadelphia, he quickly demonstrated his ability to deliver searing attacks against Donald Trump and JD Vance.
America’s introduction to Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota began with a half-hour of cheering for Vice President Kamala Harris and ended with some of the sharpest attacks Democrats have leveled against former President Donald J. Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio.
Before a raucous crowd in Philadelphia, Ms. Harris and Mr. Walz presented the Minnesotan as a folksy former schoolteacher and football coach who had inspired his students, served in the military and improved his constituents’ lives.
But it was his ability to deliver searing yet accessible attacks against their Republican opponents that won Mr. Walz a place on the national ticket, and during his first rally, he did not miss his marks.
“Donald Trump sees the world a little differently than us,” he said. “First of all, he doesn’t know the first thing about service. He doesn’t have time for it because he’s too busy serving himself.”
Then came the dagger. “Violent crime was up under Donald Trump,” he said, before pausing for effect. “That’s not even counting the crimes he committed.”
I think a lot of things started to go wrong right after Hilary said “When they go low, we go high”.
Back then they were labouring under the assumption that the Republican Party (and voters) actually had a sense of shame; that if you stick to the “political” fights rather than throwing some shade, you’ll eventually come out on top.
Now they (finally) know better. You gotta throw some shade in with that policy, and if you can make the shade humorous, all the better. Because the only thing Trump cares about is being seen as ‘strong’, and that’s why this whole ‘weird’ thing is working as well as it has.
It was Michelle Obama who coined that, but you’re right otherwise.
I kind of doubt Clinton and Biden approve of this shift and still think taking the high road is the right way. Biden is still taking the high road!
And that’s why they lost; and would have lost again.
Wonder if there were a bunch of strategists who have been cooking this strategy for a few cycles already, but they were never allowed to unleash it.