Fox News contributor Joe Concha appeared on ‘Fox & Friends First’ to discuss the media’s response to Vice President Kamala Harris’ Democratic National Convention (DNC) speech and her avoidance of the press. Despite the absence of a surprise guest, the Democrats managed to deliver a coordinated unity rally that matched the enthusiasm seen at the Republican Party’s previous event. Speculation arose regarding a potential surprise speaker, possibly former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
Recent polls indicate a close race, with former President Donald Trump still commanding the support of his deep red MAGA base, as well as non-MAGA Republicans who initially preferred other candidates. Media outlets conducted focus groups of undecided voters, revealing that most of them had shifted their support to Harris by the end of the convention.
However, this surge in support may not be sufficient. Pre-convention polls showed Trump with approximately 48% of the vote. If voting patterns in November mirror previous elections, where Democrats secured significant margins in reliably blue states, Trump’s 48% share could be enough to secure a majority in the Electoral College and return him to the Oval Office. Trump’s focus should be on retaining the voters who stood by him against President Joe Biden and during the early stages of Harris’ campaign.
During the Republican primary campaign, half of the Republicans who voted for Nikki Haley indicated they would not vote for Trump in November. However, subsequent polling has shown that almost all non-MAGA GOP voters have rallied behind Trump. Even Haley, who previously called on Trump to win over her voters, endorsed him strongly at the GOP Convention.
Analyzing Harris’ speech, it becomes evident that her style-over-substance campaign received praise from journalists, who referred to it as a “vibes election.” Notably, Harris did not mention the word “inflation” and only mentioned the word “economy” three times within the context of an “Opportunity Economy.” She defended Biden’s record, attempted to distance herself from what Haley described as a “disastrous” presidency, and directly attacked Trump.
Harris’ speech seemed to follow the playbook Haley may have intended for the general election. Both sought to link Trump and Biden as contributors to the country’s divisions, presenting the election as an opportunity to move past bitterness and cynicism. Additionally, Harris emphasized America’s exceptionalism, particularly in terms of its armed forces’ strength and the need to advance security and values abroad.
The success of the convention remains uncertain, with the first high-quality media polls following the event expected to provide an initial indication. These polls will reveal whether Trump maintains his support against Vice President Kamala Harris or if he loses some non-MAGA GOP support to Nikki Haley.