“A Miracle That Kamala Harris Could Win”: Chris Wallace on Voter Discontent and Harris’ Challenge

On Election Day, CNN anchor Chris Wallace remarked that Vice President Kamala Harris would achieve a “miracle” if she won, as exit polls released by CNN revealed high levels of dissatisfaction and anger among voters. According to CNN Political Director David Chalian, who analyzed the poll results, the mood of the electorate is markedly negative.

The exit polls, encompassing early and Election Day voters, show only 7 percent of voters expressing enthusiasm and 19 percent satisfaction with the state of the nation. In stark contrast, 43 percent of respondents reported feeling dissatisfied, while another 29 percent expressed outright anger. David Chalian described the public sentiment as a “pretty dour mood,” and his analysis set the tone for CNN’s election coverage.

In addition to the overall discontent, a significant portion of voters — 61 percent — believe America’s best days are yet to come. However, only 41 percent indicated they approve of President Joe Biden’s performance, casting uncertainty over Harris’ potential appeal as she campaigns under the current administration’s banner.

Joining the conversation, CNN anchor Dana Bash pointed out the main question raised by the poll results: Are voters prepared to take their frustrations out on Harris, or will they direct it toward former President Donald Trump? “It is extremely high, the dissatisfied or angry as David said,” noted Bash. She calculated that 72 percent of respondents felt discontented in one form or another.

“What remains unknown,” Bash said, “is whether voters will take out their dissatisfaction on Harris or former President Donald Trump.” Bash highlighted the challenge facing Harris, as she is tied to the Biden administration’s record, yet Trump remains a prominent figure on the political stage. “They are both effectively…Harris is part of the current administration — but Donald Trump and the Trump era is very much upon us,” Bash said, underscoring the complex political landscape that Harris must navigate.

Chris Wallace then weighed in, remarking on Bash’s analysis. He suggested that the CNN panel was “putting the best spin on it,” referring to the polling data and emphasizing the stark reality Harris faces. “Voters are saying with a 3-1 margin they are dissatisfied with the current country,” Wallace pointed out. “I gotta say, I think that that’s with the present conditions in the country, I mean, in conventional terms, it would be a miracle that Kamala Harris could win with that kind of headwind.”

Wallace suggested that Harris’ path to victory hinges on her ability to present herself as separate from President Biden, offering solutions to the very issues that have fueled voters’ frustrations. If she succeeds, Wallace noted, it would be due to a “remarkable job” of distinguishing herself as “part of the solution and not part of the problem.”

In Wallace’s view, Harris faces a daunting challenge, as she must convince a disillusioned electorate that she represents a fresh perspective, despite her close association with the current administration. With the weight of public dissatisfaction bearing down on her, any victory on Election Day would indeed seem, as Wallace put it, like a “miracle.”