Former Vice President Kamala Harris is sounding like a presidential candidate again, alarming former campaign aides and donors still hungover from her drubbing in 2024.
Polling and Potential Candidates
An Daily Mail/JL Partners poll of Democratic primary voters in April showed 24 percent supporting Harris, with California Governor Gavin Newsom in second place at 19 percent. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ranked third with 12 percent.
A slew of Democrats and loyalists of former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden abandoned Harris after she lost every swing state and the popular vote to President Donald Trump. But some who used to dismiss the idea of a Harris comeback now worry she will actually attempt it.
Harris running for president again would be a 'terrible idea,' one former Harris aide told the Daily Mail. Some who experienced her 2024 campaign worry her political skills are insufficient and that she would fall short again.
Changing Political Climate
The political climate has shifted, other Democratic strategists told the Daily Mail, requiring a fearless and nimble campaign messenger like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani or Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger. 'You've got to be a sort of political athlete to succeed in today's information environment. I think she struggled with that model and would continue to struggle,' a second Harris aide said.
One Democratic strategist conceded that low expectations for Harris could be her 'secret weapon,' keeping her presidential dreams alive. Harris has the reputation of living in a political bubble surrounded by her closest advisors, which could give her comeback momentum.
Public Polls Favor Harris
Harris continues to score well in public polls. A recent survey from the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University and the Harris Poll showed Democratic support for Harris as the next presidential nominee topping 50 percent, with Newsom at just 22 percent. That result surprised some strategists, even as most party power brokers do not take the idea seriously.
Newsom would prefer not to run against Harris, sources told the Daily Mail, as he has avoided direct confrontation with her in California. However, he would not step aside this time, as he ramps up his own presidential campaign.
Skepticism from Donors and Staff
One Democrat noted that although Harris's political messaging has picked up, she has not worked to build her staff, signaling a lack of seriousness. Others doubted she could secure enough donor support. Billionaire Harris donor Mark Cuban publicly confirmed he does not want to see her run again, stating flatly at a recent Washington, DC event: 'Those days are gone.'
Many other Democratic donors feel the same way, strategists told the Daily Mail. 'There's a general expectation, particularly among donors, and the conventional party people who would like to see a fresh face,' a former Harris aide said. A spokesperson for Harris did not respond to a request for comment.
Harris's Unique Experience
Democrats concede that Harris is the only proposed candidate who knows what it is like to run for president. 'The best way to prepare to run for president is to already have run for president before,' a former Harris aide conceded.
Harris remains in the spotlight even after concluding her 33-city book tour last week. When President Donald Trump took the stage at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Harris was at another ballroom over 1,000 miles away. 'I feel like I'm in a welterweight fight,' she said laughing as she took the stage at the Fisher Shackelford Dinner in Little Rock, Arkansas. 'Trust me Arkansas, you throw a much better party,' she stated.
New Rhetoric and Ambitions
Harris has changed her script after losing to Trump in 2024, adopting a darker view of the current state of affairs. The American dream now feels like the 'American myth,' she lamented. The political system was 'rigged,' the 'entrenched elite' were enjoying record profits, and the president was mired in a 'war of choice' in the Middle East. 'I'm here for some real talk clearly,' she chuckled dryly.
But not everyone receives her with enthusiasm. Video footage of a saxophone player falling asleep on stage as Harris spoke went viral on Friday, as she urged the audience to be 'ruthless' in fighting President Trump. The former vice president, who lost every swing state, is clearly not letting go of her presidential ambitions. She remains coy about another race, last telling fans on April 10 she is 'thinking' about it while appearing with activist Al Sharpton in New York City.
Democratic power brokers watch in amazement as she speaks like a presidential candidate. 'I think it's time for a revival of the American dream,' she repeated in Arkansas, promising a 'bold agenda' to help the working class. Ultimately, Democrats know no one can stop Harris from her ambition. She frequently tells young people about struggling with people trying to stop her from pursuing elected office. 'You never have to ask anyone permission to lead... I eat no for breakfast,' she famously said on the campaign trail. 'So I would recommend the same. It's a hearty breakfast.'
