Joe Biden is the singular reason why Harris & Democrats lost tonight

In the final stretch of the election campaign, Kamala Harris decided to take a bold approach. At her insistence, her campaign team began showcasing Donald Trump's most provocative remarks on the big screens at her rallies. They put his words on full display, highlighting his wandering speeches, the inflammatory rhetoric, and even his more violent tendencies. These clips were meant to remind voters just how high the stakes were in this election.

However, it seemed to make little difference in the end. Wednesday's results were a harsh blow for Harris and a devastating outcome for Democrats across the country.

Harris had taken over a campaign from Joe Biden during the summer that was, by all accounts, struggling. Biden's unpopularity and his difficulties in conveying a clear message left her with a considerable challenge. When Democrats removed Biden from the ticket, Harris worked tirelessly to unite her party, reaching out to various groups and particularly energizing women. Her efforts led to a surge in activity from TikTok and Instagram creators, who spread supportive memes, and she managed to raise impressive amounts from donors.

But even with all that momentum, Harris couldn't seem to make it count. Despite all her efforts, the shadow of Joe Biden loomed too large over her campaign. This greatly hindered her ability to convince voters that she could represent a fresh start.

The fundamental issue, many believe, was that Harris did not fully distance herself from the past four years. Voters seemed ready for something new, yet she hesitated to make a clear break from Biden's legacy. On Biden's biggest weakness—his handling of the economy—Harris chose not to differentiate herself. Her campaign didn't clearly outline how her presidency would be different from his, except for mentioning her intent to appoint a Republican to her Cabinet.

This reluctance puzzled some of Harris's close allies and even a few of her own aides. They questioned why she continued to stick so closely to Biden, especially since their campaign didn't even fully capitalize on the achievements of the Biden-Harris administration. Yet, inside the campaign, there wasn't a sense that Harris was solely at fault for the poor results.

Many aides pointed out that Harris had managed to shift the numbers in battleground states in her favor and had kept Trump's support margins from growing. They argued that the real problem was Biden's lingering influence and the widespread anti-incumbent sentiment that put her in a nearly impossible position.

"We ran the best campaign we could, considering Joe Biden was president," one campaign aide said, speaking anonymously to avoid repercussions. "Joe Biden is the singular reason Kamala Harris and the Democrats lost tonight."

Another aide added that it was obvious Biden should have stepped aside much sooner. If he had done so, it would have allowed Democrats to hold a proper primary, a contest many believed Harris would have easily won.

Despite the grim outcome, Harris's campaign wasn't without its successes. She brought energy and excitement to the Democratic base, rallying new supporters and re-engaging old ones. However, the weight of Biden's presidency, and voters' desire for change, proved to be obstacles too significant to overcome.

Ultimately, the failure to articulate a distinct vision—one that genuinely distanced itself from the past—ended up costing Harris the election. The voters wanted a clear message about the future, and instead, they got a campaign that seemed unable to break free from the previous administration's legacy. Harris's reluctance to deviate from Biden's path may have been an attempt to show loyalty or stability, but it backfired when what voters wanted most was a new direction.