By Christopher M Peeks October 8th, 2024
The polls have not favored Kamala Harris in the past two weeks. She seems to be losing steam while Donald Trump gains momentum. The most recent surveys reveal that Harris is performing worse than Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton across the board, with every demographic, except one in particular. Th
is group of voters is the only thing keeping her competitive as the two candidates race to the finish in what has already been a historic presidential contest.
This data is a much-needed boost to a campaign desperate for good news. In this election cycle, a shift has occurred among the parties. Traditional Democrats, union members, Catholics, Latinos, Blacks, and young voters are not supporting Harris like previous candidates. These groups form the bedrock of the Democratic Party, and the loss of any one of their support in previous elections led to landslide defeats, as in the case of labor abandoning Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis. However, despite these alarming numbers, Harris is either leading or tied with Donald Trump in national polling.
How can this be happening? The reason is that a notable portion of the voting population, who used to be aligned with the GOP, now aligns themselves with progressive ideologies. White, college-educated voters who previously favored Eisenhower, backed civil rights, and resided in suburban areas played a crucial role in past Republican successes. The voters who embraced the Republican platform of 1952 are now within the vice president's sphere of influence.
Voting trends in American history have changed over time. FDR revolutionized the Democratic Party by supporting the working class. Previously loyal to the party, these blue-collar voters now align themselves with Donald Trump's "New Deal" approach. Trump addresses his enthusiastic supporters in a manner reminiscent of a labor leader at a union rally.
Similarly, members of academia mow support Harris, who offers a haven for those disillusioned with Trump's politics of rage.
With 36 days left until the voters decide, America stands at a pivotal crossroads. The current presidential race represents a struggle between the educated and non-educated, but there is a more underlying dark tone. Class warfare is at play.
As Karl Marx predicted, the growing divide between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie has widened daily. Wealth is becoming concentrated in the hands of the few, leading to tensions between the middle and lower classes. Are supporters of MAGA unwittingly embracing the ideology they denounce as evil? Are the middle-class voters who now support the Democratic Party destined to face similar perils as the Russian bourgeoisie during the period known as "War Communism" or emerge as the French middle class after their revolution?
A momentous choice is on the horizon for American voters. The votes they submit in the upcoming presidential election will reshape the trajectory of the United States and carry substantial implications worldwide. Similar to the significance of the 1860 election, the future course of humanity hinges on the results and the direction set by the incoming leadership.
President-elect.
Christopher M Peeks
Reporter and Columnist
Alabama Political Contributor
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