JD Vance says listening to Kamala Harris' 2024 campaign left him feeling 'dumber'
WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance didn’t hold back when talking about Kamala Harris, saying she lacked “substance” and claiming that listening to her often made him feel “dumber.”
Vance made the remarks during the second part of his sit-down with Laura Ingraham on Fox News’ 'The Ingraham Angle' show, which aired Friday, September 26. The vice president discussed Harris’ book tour, the looming government shutdown, and other issues, but his sharpest words were saved for Harris.
JD Vance attacks Kamala Harris
Laura Ingraham referenced Harris’ new memoir, '107 Days', where she reflects on her 2024 presidential campaign following Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. The host noted that Harris had referred to Vance as “juvenile and a shapeshifter.”
Ingraham added, “She is now blaming the campaign, her loss, for the fact that it was short. That’s one of the main things she cites. If she had more time, she could have gotten more traction.”
Vance fired back without hesitation. “The more people know about Kamala Harris, the more they realize there is no substance there,” he said. He contrasted Harris with past Democratic leaders, adding, “When we disagreed with Barack Obama or Bill Clinton, they actually had substance. They could actually articulate the viewpoint. I listen to Kamala Harris for 90 seconds and I actually feel like I’ve gotten dumber in the process, and I have no idea what she actually believes.”
The VP argued Harris’ failure wasn’t due to timing but to a lack of substance. “That’s the problem with Kamala Harris, and it’s going to continue to be the problem unless she actually learns how to develop a viewpoint and articulate it for the American people,” he said.
He also dismissed Harris’ claim that her campaign was too short. “The problem is not that Kamala’s campaign was too short. It was too long,” Vance quipped. “When people actually listened to what she had to say, per polling, it went down and down and down. A 150-day campaign, three additional senators, and Donald Trump would have won by an even bigger landslide.”
During the 2024 election, Donald Trump secured victory with 312 electoral votes, while Kamala Harris trailed with 226, according to the National Archives. Trump also captured 49.8% of the popular vote.
Reflecting on those results, Vance argued that voters “saw through” Harris and questioned her ability to lead the nation. He suggested her lack of clarity ultimately doomed her campaign and continues to hurt her public image.
The interview wasn’t limited to Harris. Vance also turned to another political issue, warning about the growing influence of socialism. He took particular aim at New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, who criticized policy positions and the political agenda.
What is Kamala Harris' '107 Days' book about?
'107 Days' is a political memoir by Kamala Harris about her 2024 US presidential campaign, which lasted exactly 107 days from the moment former President Joe Biden withdrew from the race to Election Day.
In the book, Harris talked about behind-the-scenes reflections, critiques of the Biden administration’s handling of her candidacy, he personal thoughts about her political future, and her fractured professional relationship with Joe Biden. She also shared what went right and wrong during this compressed and high-stakes campaign.
