Cheney Plan Doesn’t Come Through
In a stunning miscalculation, the alliance between Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney failed to resonate with swing-state suburban voters, leading to a significant shortfall in the Harris campaign’s support against President-elect Donald Trump’s surging popularity.
Cheney, once a staunch GOP figure and Trump’s critic from her role on the January 6 committee, campaigned fervently alongside Harris in battleground suburbs, hoping to appeal to moderate Republicans and independents by labeling Trump a threat to democratic norms. Yet, her messaging fell flat, with voters ultimately rejecting Cheney’s warnings in favor of Trump’s populist appeal.
The Harris campaign’s decision to feature Cheney as a prominent surrogate has stirred unrest within the Democratic Party, prompting questions about the campaign’s outreach strategy. Some analysts suggest that Harris’s partnership with Cheney inadvertently alienated key progressive factions within the Democratic base. On Election Day, these disenfranchised voters turned to Trump, drawn by his straightforward messaging and perceived distance from the Washington establishment. This strategy miscalculation may set off a wave of Democratic infighting, as the party grapples with its failure to engage crucial demographics across the Rust Belt and Sun Belt.
Witnessing this as I left the Trump victory party moved me to tears. These people have been slandered and demeaned. They are good people. Patriots of all backgrounds who love this country and came together to make it great again. pic.twitter.com/q4tY2ey6NQ
— Lisa Boothe (@LisaMarieBoothe) November 6, 2024
Dan Turrentine, co-host of The Morning Meeting, voiced concerns that Democrats could soon be pointing fingers over the campaign’s strategic choices. “Where does the Democratic Party go?” he asked. “I think there’s going to be one side that says Harris was rallying with Liz Cheney in the suburbs, talking to Haley Republicans and not engaging the progressive base. The kind of RFK, Bernie Sanders progressive part of the party wound up in Trump’s camp. Now, how do we get them back?” Turrentine’s commentary reflects a growing anxiety among Democrats over the divide between moderate and progressive factions—a divide that has intensified in light of the election results.
Despite the election loss, Cheney stood by her decision to campaign for Harris and called on her supporters to respect the outcome. “Our nation’s democratic system functioned last night and we have a new President-elect,” Cheney said on Wednesday. “All Americans are bound, whether we like the outcome or not, to accept the results of our elections. We now have a special responsibility…to support and defend our Constitution.” Cheney’s remarks underscore her commitment to democratic principles, even as they highlight the underlying disconnect between her vision and the broader Republican base’s direction.
KAMALA: “I was just with one of the opinion leaders in the Republican Party, Liz Cheney.”
Why does she think this is such a flex??!
Liz Cheney lost her re-election campaign by FORTY POINTS. pic.twitter.com/IWeQl8snpr
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 22, 2024
This Harris-Cheney strategy misstep has triggered an urgent conversation within Democratic circles on how best to mend internal rifts. For many progressive voters, Cheney’s alignment with Harris symbolized a concession to centrist politics at a time when the party’s left flank demanded more attention to issues like economic inequality, healthcare reform, and climate action. Some analysts believe the Harris campaign’s attempt to court “Haley Republicans”—those aligned with former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley’s moderate-conservative approach—backfired by undermining support from Democrats who felt sidelined in favor of moderate suburban Republicans.
In an election where Trump saw historic gains in blue-collar and suburban areas, it’s clear that both parties face strategic recalibrations. The Republican Party’s embrace of populism continues to resonate with traditional Democrats who feel left behind, while the Democratic Party’s challenge lies in uniting its diverse base—particularly as the influence of progressive voters grows. As Cheney’s alignment with Harris fades into post-election reflection, Democrats are left to ask how best to bridge the ideological gaps within their ranks and avoid repeating this divisive strategy.