Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris decided to play hooky from the Al Smith Dinner, and the results were predictably disastrous for her already shaky campaign. This annual charity event, which is about as political as a cupcake walk, was an easy chance for Harris to charm the audience and bolster her image. In skipping it, she not only missed a golden opportunity for good press but also cemented her reputation as the poster child for strategic blunders within her party. Given how poorly she’s been faring with working-class voters and minorities, her absence spoke volumes. Apparently, no amount of lipstick on this political pig can hide the stench of failure.
The star of the night, as expected, was Donald Trump, who relentlessly ribbed his opponents and turned up the heat to the delight of the audience. Seated nearby was none other than Senator Chuck Schumer, whose expression resembled that of a cat caught in a rainstorm. Trump’s comedic take-downs were laced with a mixture of wit and a dose of intelligent political commentary. In one particularly juicy jab, he quipped that a significant reason Harris wasn’t attending was due to her receiving communion from Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The former president didn’t stop there; he even tossed a few barbs regarding Harris’s husband. For someone who skipped an essential political event, Harris was undoubtedly weighed down by the baggage of her absence.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "Chuck Schumer is here looking very glum — But look on the bright side, Chuck, considering how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president." 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/BjPY3YtcrZ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024
Trump’s humor hit harder than a sledgehammer, mainly when he aimed the so-called “White Dudes for Harris.” He unabashedly proclaimed that he wasn’t worried about their support because their wives—and their wives’ lovers—were already voting for him. Meanwhile, Harris’s absence only deepened the chasm in her campaign’s credibility. The last central political figure to skip this event was Walter Mondale, and history didn’t treat him particularly kindly for the decision. That said, one can only speculate how much lower Harris can go before she finally hits rock bottom.
The former president’s comedic roasts also included an amusing jibe about the childcare issue, suggesting that she ought to keep her husband far away from the nannies. The audience erupted with laughter, highlighting just how unprepared Harris has been in this arena. If her strategy were to avoid the event and dodge Trump’s barbs, she would have fared better by showing up and at least trying to engage. Instead, it appears she made the rookie mistake of letting fear hold her back, and political history has a way of punishing such cowardice.
As Harris attempts to navigate her failing campaign with increasingly desperate excuses—claiming that Trump is too old seems to be the latest effort—the reality is glaringly apparent. She isn’t winning anyone over with these tactics, and with every missed opportunity, she drifts further into irrelevance. Her campaign’s response to Trump’s roast was not only deflective but also showcased a level of denial that suggests her entire operation is lost in its bubble. For anyone paying attention, it’s evident that if Harris wants to have any hope of turning this ship around, she should probably learn the difference between a political stronghold and a cupcake walk.
