As President Joe Biden bows out of the 2024 campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris is now solely in the spotlight. (White House photo)
By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
With President Joe Biden’s announcement that he is bowing out of the 2024 presidential race, all eyes are now on Vice President Kamala Harris, but with her anti-gun-rights baggage, can she take the White House?
Just days after TGM posted an analysis about Biden being politically back-stabbed by his closest allies looking to retain Democrat power, Biden is leaving the campaign. After Republicans grabbed every headline in the country with their powerful convention in Milwaukee, in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, the president’s announcement was a sure fire strategy to regain news dominance.
NBC News is reporting this about Biden: “Isolated, frustrated and angry, he felt betrayed by allies who turned on him in his hour of need.”
Biden leaves the stages having been unable to pass his sweeping—and many consider extreme—gun prohibition agenda which includes a ban on so-called “assault weapons.” But American gun owners and Second Amendment grassroots activists—traditionally called “gun voters”—know this agenda is also that of Harris. Her name was on it when they took office in 2021, and she has been prominently mentioned in other gun control efforts.
Earlier this year, a White House announcement about the first actions by the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP), reminded the public, “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to preventing gun violence.” At the time, Harris was heading the OGVP effort and the announcement had two parts:
- First, Vice President Harris is announcing the launch of the first-ever National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center, which will support the effective implementation of state red flag laws.
- Second, the Vice President is calling on states to pass red flag laws and to use BSCA funding to help implement laws already enacted.
Fox News is reporting that Biden “has not been seen publicly since a letter was released.” He was isolating in Delaware following his COVID diagnosis last week, which now some people are doubting.
In a separate Fox News report, Harris was reported to have had “multiple phone conversations” with Biden before his Sunday announcement.
Harris quickly garnered an endorsement from Bill and Hillary Clinton, which could only reinforce resolve among gun owners to vote against her.
Democrats will hold their convention next month in Chicago, with several pundits already observing that it could amount to an open convention wherein someone else could secure the nomination.
For a brief period, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin was in the headlines after hinting he would re-register as a Democrat to run. He left the party and filed as an Independent. However, Politico reported Monday morning that Manchin has decided against a presidential run.
Deadline is reporting one positive development for Democrats. Following Biden’s announcement, Deadline noted, “top Hollywood donors are already breaking out their checkbooks.” Hollywood elites had closed their wallets to the Biden campaign after his disastrous debate with former President Trump. With him off the ticket, they are getting generous again to help retain Democrat power.
But the question remains. Can Harris actually win the November election, presuming she is the candidate facing off against Trump?
As indicated by The Hill, it will be an uphill battle. Citing information from several polls, The Hill shows Harris trailing Trump by at least 2 percentage points, and if Independent Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. tossed into the mix, she loses ground 43-37 percent. Kennedy pulls 6 percent in that contest.
Going further, The Hill says Trump leads Harris in key states.
“At the same time,” The Hill is reporting, “hypothetical Trump-Harris polling in individual states indicates a tough fight…Trump boasts leads of roughly 9 points in Nevada, 7 points in Arizona and 6 points in Georgia, according to DDHQ averages.”
The Hill adds that Trump is ahead by 4 points in Pennsylvania, 1 point in Wisconsin and up about a half-point in Michigan. Harris leads in Virginia, however.
If she wins the nomination, a lot will depend upon her vice presidential pick. Two names already being suggested are Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
If Harris is the nominee, expect her to campaign on the same gun control agenda she and Biden pushed as their platform in 2020. In June 2021, the White House announced the “Biden-Harris Comprehensive Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gun Crime and Ensure Public Safety.” It foretold a crackdown on alleged “rogue gun dealers” which has translated into the weaponization of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with a “zero tolerance policy” for willful violations of gun laws, but anecdotal evidence suggests this crackdown has been tough on paperwork errors and other minor problems.
About 3 ½ months remain before the November election. It appears to be Trump’s election to win or lose. Having survived the assassination attempt, and riding high from the successful GOP convention, the former president appears to have captured the whirlwind. His challenge now is to hold on until the election.
