Harris Chooses O’Malley
Let's talk about the latest buzz surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign. She recently made headlines by appointing Jen O'Malley Dillon as her campaign chair, a decision that's sparked quite a bit of chatter online.
O'Malley Dillon previously chaired the Biden-Harris campaign and played a key role in Biden's 2020 victory. However, her appointment has faced some criticism on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Critics argue that her leadership during the current Biden campaign has been less than stellar, with some even blaming her for the campaign's struggles.
Despite the criticism, Harris isn't officially the Democratic candidate yet. However, a survey of delegates by The Associated Press indicates she has enough support to secure the nomination. This united front among Democrats is crucial as they prepare to face off against the Republicans.
Ronald Klain, former White House chief of staff, praised Harris for her choice, calling O'Malley Dillon "incomparable" in a post on X. On the flip side, Nate Silver, the founder of FiveThirtyEight, was critical.
He pointed out that the Biden campaign was lagging in key states even before Biden's debate performances became an issue. Silver's critical view suggests that the campaign's strategy was flawed from the start.
Newsweek reached out to the Harris campaign for comments, but no response has been received yet. Meanwhile, Jonathan Chait from New York magazine defended O'Malley Dillon, arguing that Biden's issues were not her fault. Silver responded, listing several problems, including poor polling and over-reliance on an online strategy.
Kostas Moros, an attorney, chimed in, suggesting that Harris' choice of O'Malley Dillon is good news for Republicans. Other critics, like Spencer Hakimian, believe that choosing O'Malley Dillon won't help Harris distance herself from Biden's weaknesses.
However, not everyone is critical. Some users on X defended O'Malley Dillon's capabilities. Political economist Konstantin Sonin argued that if O'Malley Dillon could manage Biden's campaign under challenging circumstances, she could certainly handle Harris'. Justin Woolhandler pointed out that while Biden's age became an issue, his team was solid.
Additionally, Emmy Ruiz, the White House political director, praised O'Malley Dillon, highlighting her expertise and dedication. She expressed confidence in O'Malley Dillon's ability to lead Harris' campaign to victory.