Kamala Harris has come to the White House to talk campaign strategy.
B: We need to discuss your role in the campaign. It’s going to be very important.
H: That’s good to hear.
B: It isn’t just for this race. Your position as the presumptive leader of the party depends a lot on your performance between now and November. It’s an opportunity to shine and save the country at the same time.
H: I’m up for it. What’s the plan?
B: You’re going to be in charge of rallying the base. We need them to come out and vote in November as if their lives depend on it, because they do. I’ll be the voice of moderation in Washington, running the country competently and appealing to swing voters.
H: Sounds reasonable. What do you want me to focus on?
B: Reproductive rights should be a major issue for us. You’re obviously better positioned to discuss them than I am. It isn’t just abortion–it includes contraception, as well. We need to highlight what Trump is likely to do with the regulations and the Comstock Act even if he somehow tells the truth and doesn’t push for a complete ban. And we need to tie the issue to Republican attacks on other rights, like voting.
H: I’m already on that one.
B: Climate change is another biggie. We need to contrast Republican denialism with our legislative successes with electric cars. We represent the future; they’re the dead and buried past. To make things tangible for people who don’t get it, we need to talk about the rising cost of insurance, and how denying climate change is already causing people financial problems. It isn’t just a matter of protecting our grandchildren; we need to do something for ourselves, right away.
H: Makes sense.
B: Immigration. Thus far, all of the discussion has been about how open the border is. We need to change the terms of the argument to focus on Trump’s plans. Using the military in violation of the law to deport 15 million people. What will that mean for the country? How will we replace all of those workers? And what about the plan to bring family separation back? Not to mention Trump’s efforts to destroy the bipartisan consensus to improve the current situation.
H: All legitimate points.
B: We need to talk about our efforts to reduce costs for everyone, including young people. We are forgiving student debt. We reduced the cost of insulin. We’re making progress on prescription drug prices. We’re exposing shrinkflation. What is Trump doing? Driving up prices with tariffs and causing labor shortages. Does that make sense?
H: Clearly not.
B: On Gaza, we need to tell our people that we’re supporting the elimination of Hamas as a necessary step to a Palestinian state. We’re trying to save as many lives as possible in that process. Trump just wants the Israelis to blow all of Gaza up and then build housing for settlers on it.
H: Anything else?
B: Tell black voters that we have record low unemployment for minorities, and that inequality is being reduced. We also support affirmative action. Trump wants to get rid of what’s left of it and tell black people to just get over hundreds of years of history.
H: Sounds like a plan. (She leaves)